Computer-implemented tools for use in electrophysiology

ABSTRACT

Improved computer-implemented tools for use in modeling/simulating spatial charge distributions for electrophysiological systems are provided. The improvements are in three areas: (1) the use of solid angles to calculate quantities of free charge and/or bound charge in calculation cells and/or the movement of quantities of free charge across one or more faces of a calculation cell; (2) the use of flattened calculations cells having only two faces with substantial areas as seen from the free charge and/or the bound charge of the electrophysiological system; and (3) the use of at least two spatial charge distributions, specifically, at least one for bound charge and at least one for free charge, so as to include the effects of relative dielectric constants greater than 1.0 for part or all of an electrophysiological system. The three improvements can be used individually or in combinations.

Cross-Reference To Related Application

This application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. Application No.15/097,379 filed Apr. 13, 2016, the contents of which in its entirety ishereby incorporated by reference. This application also claims thebenefit under 35 USC §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No.62/150,453 filed on Apr. 21, 2015, the contents of which in its entiretyis hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD

This disclosure relates to electrophysiology and, in particular, tocomputer-implemented tools for analyzing and interpretingelectrophysiological data, designing electrophysiological experiments,and discovering heretofore unknown mechanisms and phenomena ofelectrophysiological systems.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

This disclosure provides improvements to the modeling/simulationprocesses of U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,180,617 and 8,706,466 (hereinafter the'617/'466 patents), the contents of both of which are incorporatedherein by reference in their entireties.

The improvements are directed to modeling/simulating at least a portionof an electrophysiological system and are in three areas: (1) the use ofsolid angles to calculate quantities of free charge and/or bound chargein calculation cells and/or the movement of quantities of free chargeacross one or more faces of a calculation cell (hereinafter referred toas the “solid angle process” or the “Ω process”); (2) the use offlattened calculations cells having only two faces with substantialareas as seen from the free charge and/or the bound charge of theelectrophysiological system (hereinafter referred to as the “flattenedcalculation cell process” or the “δO process”); and (3) the use of atleast two spatial charge distributions, specifically, at least one forbound charge and at least one for free charge, so as to include theeffects of relative dielectric constants greater than 1.0 for part orall of the electrophysiological system (hereinafter referred to as the“bound charge/free charge process”).

In each of the improvements, at least one spatial charge distribution ismodeled/simulated without first determining and differentiating anelectrical potential. The three improvements can be used individually orin combinations. To avoid the need to deal with singularities arisingfrom Equations (1) and (2) of the '617/'466 patents as a calculationcell is flattened (i.e., as two faces of a calculation cell approach oneanother; see below and FIG. 1), it is generally preferred to use thefirst improvement when practicing the second improvement. When usedtogether, the first and second improvements are referred to as the “Ωδ→0processes”.

As a result of the first improvement, the number of calculation cellsneeded to model/simulate an electrophysiological system or a portionthereof can be substantially reduced. In particular, as shown inconnection with Eqs. (5) and (6) below, calculation cells do not need tobe placed at locations having the following properties: (1) thelocations are within the body of a conductor, dielectric, orconductor/dielectric, i.e., the locations are not at interfaces betweenmaterials having different properties; (2) the locations have materialproperties that are isotropic; (3) the locations have no charges at thebeginning of the modeling/simulation; and (4) during the course of themodeling/simulation, the locations do not receive charges as appliedcharges and/or as the result of the direct action of non-conservativefields.

Calculation cells are not required at locations having these propertiesbecause there being no charges at the beginning of themodeling/simulation and no charges introduced thereafter, anycalculation cell placed at the location will have zero charges for alltimes. Specifically, for such a calculation cell, because solid anglecalculations are used, there will be no net response to quantities ofcharges in other calculation cells (the external-to-the-calculation-cellcharges) since all charges that move into such a calculation cellthrough one or more of its faces as a result of such external chargeswill exit the calculation cell through one or more of its other faces.Consequently, such a calculation cell will never have any charge andtherefore it will never have an effect on charges in other calculationcells. For these reasons, there is no need to include such “alwaysempty” calculation cells during the modeling/simulation and inaccordance with a preferred embodiment of the first improvement, such“always empty” cells are not included in the modeling/simulation.

It should be noted, however, that the presence of such “always empty”calculation cells does no harm and thus if computer storage requirementsand computation times are not of concern for the electrophysiologicalsystem being analyzed, such cells can be included in themodeling/simulation if desired. For example, in Example 1 below, “alwaysempty” calculation cells were included in the calculations in order toillustrate the ability of the solid angle process to substantiallycompletely eliminate the low levels of internal charges seen whenEquations (1) and (2) of the '617/'466 patents, rather than the solidangle process, is used to move quantities of charge between calculationcells.

Quantitatively, if the number of cells needed to perform themodeling/simulation without the first improvement is of order n³, thenwith the improvement, the number will be of order n² for large n. Evenfor the relatively modest number of calculation cells used in theexamples, the ability to skip “always empty” cells results in asubstantial reduction in the number of cells needed for a simulation.For example, in Example 1, 8405 cubic calculation cells (41×41×5) can bereduced by 54% to 3,842 cells by skipping internal (always empty)calculation cells. Many of the remaining examples employ a conductor ordielectric or conductor/dielectric in the form of a cube having sixsurfaces. Each surface of the cube is divided into 41×41 square-shaped,flattened calculation cells giving a total of 10,086 cells (41×41×6). Ifthe solid angle process had not been used and internal calculation cellsneeded to be included in the simulation, the number of cells requiredwould have been 68,921 (41×41×41) cells or essentially seven times asmany.

The second improvement, i.e., the flattened calculation cell process,also improves the efficiency of the computation tools of the '617/'466patents. Rather than reducing the number of calculation cells that needsto be considered, this improvement involves reducing the number of facesof a calculation cell at which computations need to be performed. Thisimprovement focuses on the calculation cells that are located at aninterface between two media. In accordance with the preferred embodimentof the first improvement discussed above in which calculations are notperformed for “always empty” cells, in certain embodiments, suchinterface calculation cells will be the great majority and, in manycases, all or essentially all of the calculation cells at whichcalculations are performed.

For ease of presentation, we will treat the case of a cubic calculationcell, the same analysis being applicable to calculation cells havingother configurations. FIG. 1 shows such a cubic calculation celldesignated cell A, where face ab is at the interface, face a looks outinto the medium containing cell A and faces c through f look towardsneighboring calculation cells at the interface and in the same medium.Whether one uses the first improvement disclosed herein, i.e., the solidangle process, or uses Equations (1) and (2) of the '617/'466 patents,for each quantity of charge in the electrophysiological system, sixcalculations are in general required for a cubic calculation cell, i.e.,one calculation for each of faces a, ab, and c through f of the cell.Six calculations are required because each face is at a differentlocation in space. From symmetry considerations, some reduction and/orsimplification of the calculations can be achieved for the quantity ofcharge in the calculation cell of interest (the “target cell”) and forquantities of charge in calculation cells that are immediate neighborsof the target cell, but for most of the charges in the system, acalculation, e.g., a solid angle calculation, is needed for theinteraction of each quantity of charge with each of the six faces of thetarget cell. Such a calculation for the interaction of a single quantityof charge with a single face will be referred to herein as an “ab initiocalculation” since the calculation is not based on a previousinteraction calculation.

In accordance with the second improvement, in an embodiment, only asingle ab initio calculation is needed for each calculation cell foreach quantity of charge, e.g., a single solid angle calculation. This isso irrespective of whether the quantity of charge is in the target cellor outside that cell. Specifically, in accordance with the flattenedcell process, the distance δ in FIG. 1 between faces a and ab is reducedin size, thus bringing those faces into substantially the same location(mathematically, to the same location) while at the same time reducingthe areas of faces c through f (mathematically, to zero).

As a consequence of the reduction in the areas of faces c through f,quantities of charge only interact with faces a and ab and thuscalculations are only needed for those faces. As to faces a and ab, onlya single ab initio calculation is needed because, as δ becomes small,those faces are at substantially the same location, the only differencebetween the faces being their orientation with respect to the quantityof charge whose interaction with the face is to be determined, i.e.,whether the quantity of charge “sees” the inward or outward side of theface. The orientations of faces a and ab determine the sign, but not themagnitude, of the interaction with the quantity of charge. Hence, only asingle ab initio calculation of the interaction is needed with the signapplied to the interaction being selected based on an examination of thelocation of the quantity of charge relative to faces a and ab or asimple calculation based on the angle between a vector from the quantityof charge to the face and the outward normal at the face (see discussionbelow in connection with Eq. (1)).

In accordance with this embodiment, if one calculates the interactionsof the quantities of charge in the system with one of the faces of aflattened calculation cell (the initial set of ab initio calculations)then the interactions of those quantities of charge with the other faceof the flattened calculation cell can be determined from the initial setof ab initio calculations without the need for further ab initiocalculations. Moreover, if that flattened calculation cell is a memberof a pair of flattened calculation cells on either side of an interfacebetween two media having different electrical properties (see FIG. 2),then the one set of ab initio calculations can be used for the faces ofthe other member of the pair, again without the need for further abinitio calculations.

If desired, more than one ab initio calculation can be performed forsome or all flattened calculation cells. Although this will not takefull advantage of the flattened calculation process, it will stillreduce the number of calculations that need to be performed, e.g., from6 to 2 for cubic calculation cells.

In addition to making the calculations more efficient, the secondimprovement also allows for more accurate modeling of both simple andcomplex geometries. With regard to simple geometries, by flattening thecalculation cells, the behavior of a planar surface can be moreaccurately represented by the modeling/simulation because neighboringcalculation cells lying in a common plane do not interact with oneanother. This can be seen most easily when solid angles are used toexpress the interaction. As seen from a quantity of charge in a plane,the face of a flattened calculation cell lying in the same plane haszero solid angle. Thus, the quantity of charge cannot cause any chargeto pass through the face, i.e., the quantity of charge does not causecharges to accumulate in a target flattened calculation cell in the sameplane. As a consequence, these “same plane” interactions can beautomatically skipped (just like the “always empty” cells), thusproviding additional efficiency to the modeling/simulating process.

With regard to complex geometries, by flattening calculation cells sothat they have only two significant faces at substantially the samelocation, the calculation cells can be treated as pixels in atwo-dimensional space rather than voxels in a three dimensional space.Considered as pixels, the calculation cells can freely take on a varietyof densities, sizes, and/or shapes, e.g., square, triangular, orhexagonal shapes, and the modeling/simulation process can take advantageof sophisticated meshing techniques of the type developed in connectionwith the display of the surfaces of three-dimensional objects. Forexample, different types of calculation cells can be used for differentparts of the system being simulated, e.g., smaller calculation cells canbe used when modeling the opposing surfaces of thin biological membranesand larger calculation cells can be used when modeling all or parts ofthe surfaces that form the outer boundary of the system.

Turning to the third improvement, as discussed below in connection withEqs. (71)-(98), in accordance with this improvement, the dielectricproperties of electrophysiological systems are modeled/simulated usingbound and free charge distributions which in certain embodiments arealternately determined, i.e., determined one after the other, subject todifferent assumptions. Specifically, the bound charge distribution istreated as responding (relaxing) much more rapidly than the free chargedistribution. Based on this treatment, in proceeding from time stept_(n) to time step t_(n+1), the bound charge distribution at time stept_(n+i) is calculated first. During this calculation, the free chargedistribution is assumed to retain its distribution at time step t_(n).Then, the free charge distribution is moved forward to its distributionat time step t_(n+i) based on (1) the free charge distribution at timestep t_(n) and (2) the newly-calculated bound charge distribution attime step t_(n+1). The process is then repeated, i.e., a new boundcharge distribution for time step t_(n+2) is calculated using the freecharge distribution at time step t_(n+1) and then a new free chargedistribution for time step t_(n+2) is calculated using the free chargedistribution for time step t_(n+1) and the bound charge distribution fortime step t_(n+2). Further iterations following the same pattern areperformed until the modeling/simulating is terminated based on atermination (quitting) criterion, e.g., an upper limit on the number ofiterations, the attainment of steady state, the attainment of anextrapolatable behavior for the charge distributions, or such othercriterion that the user may impose. It should be noted that theseiterations, which are also referred to herein as time steps, aredifferent from the iterations used to determine steady state free chargedistributions and bound charge distributions using iterative techniquessuch as Jacobi iteration; see, for example, the discussion followingEqs. (41)-(44) and the Jacobi iterations at multiple time steps ofExample 5 below.

Additional aspects and advantages of the technology disclosed herein areset forth in the detailed description that follows, and in part will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description orrecognized by practicing the technology as described herein. Theaccompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding ofthe technology, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of thisspecification. It is to be understood that the various aspects of thetechnology disclosed in this specification and in the drawings can beused individually and in any and all combinations. It is also to beunderstood that the general description set forth above and the detaileddescription which follows are merely exemplary of the invention and areintended to provide an overview or framework for understanding thenature and character of the invention as defined by the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a representative calculation cell inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional diagram of two representativecalculation cells which meet at an interface in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a representative flow chart for setting up a simulation inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a representative flow chart in accordance with an embodimentof the disclosure in which solid angle values are calculated forsubsequent use in the representative simulations of FIGS. 5-8.

FIG. 5 is a representative flow chart for a conductor simulation inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a representative flow chart for a steady state conductorsimulation in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a representative flow chart for a dielectric simulation inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 8 is a representative flow chart for a dielectric/conductorsimulation in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 9 is a plot of normalized, steady state, free charge in percentversus calculation cell number for an embodiment of the solid angleprocess (Ω process) of the present disclosure (dashed line) and theprocess of Equations (1) and (2) of the '617/'466 patents (solid line).

FIG. 10 is a plot of normalized capacitance versus the number ofcalculation cells per edge of a conductive cube. The normalizedcapacitance values were obtained using an embodiment of the solid angleand flattened calculation cell processes (Ωδ→0 processes) of the presentdisclosure.

FIG. 11 is a plot of normalized, steady state, free charge in percentversus calculation cell number for the analytic solution for a pointsource above a semi-infinite conductive volume.

FIG. 12 is a plot of normalized, steady state, free charge in percentversus calculation cell number for a point source above a conductivecube. The charge distribution was obtained using an embodiment of theΩδ→0 processes of the present disclosure.

FIG. 13 is a plot comparing the steady state, free charge distributionof FIG. 11 (dashed line; analytic solution) with the steady state, freecharge distribution of FIG. 12 (solid line; Ωδ→0 processes) aroundcalculation cell 0.

FIG. 14 is a plot illustrating how the difference between the solid lineand the dashed line of FIG. 13 changes (becomes smaller and thenasymptotic) as the number of calculation cells per edge used in the Ωδ→0processes is increased.

FIG. 15 is a plot comparing the steady state, free charge distributionof FIG. 11 (dashed line; analytic solution) with the steady state, freecharge distribution of FIG. 12 (solid line; Ωδ→0 processes) aroundcalculation cell 20.

FIG. 16 is a plot of normalized, steady state, free charge in percentversus calculation cell number for a point source above a conductivecube. The charge distribution was obtained using an embodiment of theΩδ→0 processes of the present disclosure with the number of calculationcells per edge of the conductive cube equal to 81. The plot shows thecharge distribution around calculation cell 40.

FIG. 17 is a plot of normalized free charge in percent versus time inunits of τ-sigma for a point source above a conductive cube. The timeseries was obtained using an embodiment of the Ωδ→0 processes of thepresent disclosure and is for calculation cell 0.

FIG. 18 is a plot of normalized free charge in percent versus time inunits of τ-sigma for the analytic solution for a point source above asemi-infinite conductive volume. The plotted values are for the centerof calculation cell 0.

FIG. 19 is a plot comparing the time series of FIG. 18 (dashed line;analytic solution) with the times series of FIG. 17 (solid line; Ωδ→0processes) for the time period between 2τ-sigma and 8τ-sigma.

FIG. 20 is a plot of normalized free charge in percent versus time inunits of τ-sigma for a point source above a conductive cube. The timeseries was obtained using an embodiment of the Ωδ→0 processes of thepresent disclosure and is for calculation cell 20.

FIG. 21 is a plot of normalized bound charge in percent versuscalculation cell number for the analytic solution for a point sourceabove a semi-infinite dielectric volume. The five curves (bottom to top)are for ε_(r) values of 2, 4, 8, 16, and 64.

FIG. 22 is a plot of normalized bound charge in percent versuscalculation cell number for a point source above a dielectric cube. Thecharge distribution was obtained using an embodiment of the Ωδ→0processes of the present disclosure. The five curves (bottom to top) arefor ε_(r) values of 2, 4, 8, 16, and 64.

FIG. 23 is a plot of normalized free charge and normalized bound chargein percent versus time in units of τ-sigma for a point source above aconductive/dielectric cube. The time series were obtained using anembodiment of the Ωδ→0 and bound charge/free charge processes of thepresent disclosure and are for calculation cell 0.

FIG. 24 is a plot of normalized free charge and normalized bound chargein percent versus time in units of τ-sigma for the analytic solution fora point source above a semi-infinite conductive/dielectric volume. Theplotted values are for the center of calculation cell 0.

FIG. 25 is a midplane, cross-sectional, diagram of the system geometryused in Example 6. The system has two major concavities at 13 a and 13 band four concavities at 15 a-15 d, as well as four convexities at 17a-17 d.

FIG. 26 is a topographical plot of normalized surface charge density forconcavity 13 a of FIG. 25.

FIG. 27 is a plot of normalized surface charge density for the flattenedcalculation cells lying between locations 23 and 24 of path 25 of FIG.25. The filled data points in this figure and in FIGS. 28 and 29 are forgap 27 present and the open data points are for the gap filled with theconductive material of the conductor.

FIG. 28 is a plot of normalized surface charge density for the flattenedcalculation cells lying between locations 21 and 22 of path 26 of FIG.25.

FIG. 29 is a plot of normalized voltage along a path midway betweenpaths 25 and 26.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

As discussed above, the present disclosure relates to three improvementsto the modeling/simulation processes of the '617/'466 patents that arereferred to herein as the solid angle process, the flattened calculationcell process, and the bound charge/free charge process. In order tosimplify the notation, we will first discuss the first and secondimprovements assuming the relative dielectric constant is equal to 1.0throughout the system so that there are only quantities of free chargeand no quantities of bound charge, and will then turn to a discussion ofthe third improvement where the relative dielectric constant can begreater than 1.0 for at least one part of the system so that there canbe quantities of bound charge.

I. ΩPROCESS

In accordance with an embodiment of the first improvement, quantities offree charge are moved across faces of calculation cells using anequation of the form:

Δq ^(f) _(j)=−(Δt/4_(πε) ₀)(σ_(j))(Σ_(i)q^(f) _(i)Ω_(j←i))   (1)

where:

-   -   (i) Δq^(f) _(j) is the quantity of free charge moved across the        j^(th) face and into the calculation cell in a time step Δt,    -   (ii) σ_(j) is the smaller of the calculation cell conductivities        on the inside and outside of the j^(th) face,    -   (iii) q_(i) ^(f) is the quantity of free charge in coulombs in        the i^(th) calculation cell, said quantity of charge, in an        embodiment, being concentrated at the center of the calculation        cell so as to simplify the calculations (it should be noted that        the word “quantity” when used in conjunction with the word        “charge” as in the phrase “quantity of charge” is not merely the        magnitude of the charge but also includes its sign; it should        also be noted that when extended to dielectrics, the summation        of Eq. (1) will include both free and bound charges),    -   (iv) ε₀ is the dielectric constant of free space (ε₀≈8.85×10⁻¹²        farads/meter in SI units),    -   (v) the summation is over all of the calculation cells that        contain quantities of free charge which includes:        -   (a) the calculation cell that includes the j^(th) face (the            self-term),        -   (b) all calculation cells in the system that at the time            Δq^(f) _(j) is calculated contain a quantity of free charge,            e.g., because the cell accumulated a quantity of free charge            as a result of being at an interface between two materials            having different conductivities and/or because the cell            contains a quantity of free charge because of anisotropic            conductivity, and/or because the cell contains a quantity of            fixed charge, and/or because the cell received and still            retains a quantity of applied free charge and/or a quantity            of free charge resulting from the direct action of            non-conservative fields, and    -   (vi) Ω_(j←i) is the solid angle of the j^(th) face as seen from        the i^(th) quantity of charge, the solid angle being positive        when the i^(th) quantity of charge sees the inward side of the        j^(th) face and negative when it sees the outward side where        “inward” and “outward” are relative to the internal volume of        the calculation cell or, equivalently, Ω_(j←i) is positive when        the angle between a vector from the i^(th) quantity of charge to        the center of the j^(th) face makes an acute angle with an        outward normal to the j^(th) face and negative when that angle        is obtuse where again the outward normal is relative to the        internal volume of the calculation cell. (Note that the left        facing arrow, i.e., ←, is used to indicate that the i^(th)        quantity of charge is “looking at” the j^(th) face.)

Numerous techniques based on spherical trigonometry are known fordetermining solid angles and can be used in connection with Eq. (1).See, for example, Harding, A. M. “The Apparent Size of a Cube.” TheAmerican Mathematical Monthly. 21, 209-219, 1914.

The total quantity of free charge Δq^(f) _(i) moved into a calculationcell during a time step Δt is then:

Δq ^(f) _(i)=Σ_(j) Δq ^(f) _(j)=−(Δt/4πε₀)Σ_(j)(σ_(j))(Σ_(i) q ^(f)_(i)Ω_(j<i))+I ^(f) _(i) Δt,   (2)

where (1) the j summation is over all of the faces of the calculationcell, e.g., j goes from one to six for a cubic calculation cell, (2) asin Eq. (1), the i summation is over all of the calculation cells thatcontain quantities of free charge at the time Δq^(f) _(i) is calculated,and (3) I^(f) _(i)Δt represents a quantity of free charge imposed (addedor subtracted) to the i^(th) calculation cell during the time step Δt,i.e., I^(f) _(i)Δt represents a quantity of free charge directlyintroduced into the i^(th) calculation cell such as a quantity ofapplied free charge or a quantity of free charge arising from the directaction of non-conservative fields.

In the discussion below, especially in connection with the discussion ofmatrix notation (see, for example, Eqs. (41)-(44)), it will beconvenient to distinguish between (1) quantities of imposed free chargesthat are subject to redistribution by conduction during the simulation,such as quantities of imposed free charge represented by I^(f) _(i)Δt,and (2) quantities of imposed free charge that are not subject to suchredistribution, i.e., quantities of free charge that are spatiallystationary (non-redistributable) because they are in calculation cellswith zero conductivity. We will designate these latter quantities ofcharge as s charges to indicate that they serve as “spatially stationarysources” that do not redistribute through conduction. A non-limitingexample of such s charge is the quantity of charge of the point sourceoutside a slab in Example 1 and a cube in Examples 3-5 below. Othernon-limiting examples are quantities of fixed charge, such as the fixedcharges associated with charged amino acids, e.g., the charged aminoacids of the proteins that form pores through biological membranes. Itshould be noted that s charges, as well as I^(f) _(i)'s, can be timeinvariant or can change over time.

With the introduction of the s nomenclature to representnon-redistributable free charge, in all subsequent equations of thisdisclosure, the superscript f will be limited to redistributable freecharge. Using this convention, Eqs. (1) and (2) become:

Δq ^(f) _(i)=−(Δt/4πε₀)(σ_(j))(Σ_(i) q ^(f) _(i)Ω_(j←i)+Σ_(k) q ^(s)_(k)Ω_(j←k)), and   (3)

Δq ^(f) _(i); =−(Δt/4πε₀)Σ_(j)(σ_(j))(Σ_(i) q ^(f) _(i)Ω_(j<i)+Σ_(k) q^(s) _(k)Ω_(j<k))+I^(f) _(j) Δt,   (4)

where the i and k summations are over calculation cells which areconductive and non-conductive, respectively.

As can be seen from Eq. (4), the change in the quantity ofredistributable free charge in the i^(th) calculation cell depends onthe quantity of redistributable free charge currently in that cell.Thus, the quantity of redistributable free charge in the i^(th)calculation cell feeds back on itself and in many cases, depending onthe I^(f) _(i) for the given calculation cell, the I^(f) _(i)'s for theother calculation cells of the system, and the s charges, can eventuallystop changing when the movement of free charge across the faces of thei^(th) calculation cell caused by the quantity of free charge in thei^(th) calculation cell balances the movement of free charge into or outof the i^(th) calculation cell caused by the other quantities of chargein the system. See, for example, Eqs. (33)-(44) below.

As an aside, it is of interest to note that Eqs. (1)-(4) depend on thegeometry (shape) of the system through the Ω values, but not on the size(characteristic dimension) of the system. That is, for a fixed number ofcalculation cells at fixed relative locations, changing the size of thecalculation cells and thus the system does not change the Δq's since theΩ values remain constant with a change in scale. This can also be seenby considering electric fluxes. For example, if all distances in asystem are increased by the multiplicative factor x, surface areas willincrease by x² and the strengths of electric fields at those surfaceareas will decrease by 1 /x². The flux through any surface willtherefore remain unchanged because the flux depends on the product ofarea and electric field strength.

In terms of biological function, scale invariance provides a mechanismby which biological cells having substantially the same shape canoperate in substantially the same manner even if they have differentsizes, e.g., small pyramidal cells can process inputs of the samestrength in substantially the same manner as large pyramidal cells. Allthat needs to be assumed is that the receptor density on the membrane ofany structure of interest, e.g., the receptor density on the membrane ofa neuron's axon hillock, remains constant as the size of the biologicalcell scales. The probability of interaction between a membrane receptorand a charged species as a result of electrical inputs of the samestrength to the biological cell, e.g., from excitatory and inhibitorysynapses modeled as current sources, will then remain constant with achange in the size of the biological cell. That is, if the number ofsignaling molecules per unit area goes down because of the largerdimensions, but the total number of receptors goes up because of theincreased area, then the probability of a signaling molecule bindingwith a receptor remains constant.

This can be seen by considering, as a specific example, a doubling ofthe size of a biological cell. The Δq's at the cell's membrane due toelectrical inputs will not change with such a doubling because of the Ωinvariance. However, Δq per unit area will decrease by a factor of foursince the membrane area of the structure of interest, e.g., the axonhillock, will increase by a factor of four with the doubling in size.This would seem to make it less likely that there would be aninteraction. However, if the receptor density remains constant, theincrease in the membrane area by a factor of four means that the numberof receptors associated with the structure of interest increases by afactor of four, thus bringing the probability of interaction back towhat it was for the smaller biological cell. With the probabilityunchanged, the cell function will be the same thus allowing small andlarge biological cells having the same shape to operate in the samemanner.

Another way of considering this effect is to define biologicallysignificant “landmarks” or “landmark regions.” For example, the axonhillock can be thought of as a landmark region. The total quantity ofcharge in a landmark region (the landmark charge) will be the sameirrespective of the size of a cell if the cell viewed as an electricalmedium has the same shape and conductivity and if the source chargewhich induces the charge distribution is constant. As noted above, thesource charge can, for example, be an active synapse modeled as acurrent source. While the total quantity of charge in the landmarkregion is constant irrespective of the scale, the charge density is notconstant, i.e., it is proportional to 1 /x² where x is the scale.However, if the number of receptors per unit area is constant, then thetotal number of receptors for the landmark region scales as x². Theproduct of total receptors times charge density is then a constant, thusallowing the functioning of the cell to be independent of size. Itshould be noted that these same considerations regarding scaling alsoapply to bound charge.

Unlike free and bound charges, potential values calculated from chargedistributions (see, for example, Eq. (99) below) do not scale becausethey depend on 1 /r instead as 1 /r². Conversely, sources defined interms of potentials, e.g., Nernst potentials, instead of applied chargesor applied currents, do not scale. Example 6 below is such a non-scalingexample, the source being an array of dipoles whose strengths are basedon a predetermined potential such as a Nernst potential. Example 2 ofthe '617/'466 patents was also of this type, i.e., the source wasdefined in terms of a potential (a Nernst potential) instead of appliedcharges or applied currents. In both cases, the fields produced by thesources do not vary as 1 /r², the field varying as 1 /r³ in Example 6(see Eq. (122) below) and varying as 1/r in the case of Example 2 of the'617/'466 patents (see Equations (5) and (6) of the '617/'466 patents).Hence, for a fixed applied potential, the Δq's do not remain constant asthe system is scaled.

Returning to Eq. (4), the basis for “always empty” calculation cells canbe seen from that equation as follows. By assumption, σ_(j) is the samefor all faces, i.e., the conductivity is assumed to be isotropic at thelocation of the “always empty” calculation cell, so that Eq. (4) can bewritten:

Δq ^(f) _(AE)=−(σΔt/4πε₀)Σ_(j)(Σ_(i) q ^(f) _(i)Ω_(j←i)+Σ_(k≠AE) q ^(s)_(k)Ω_(j←k)),   (5)

where σ is the common conductivity at all of the faces of the AE (alwaysempty) cell. In Eq. (5), I^(f) _(i)Δt of Eq. (4) has been set equal tozero and the AE cell has been omitted from the second summation (the scharge summation) since by assumption there are no imposed free chargesfor AE cells. Interchanging the order of the summations in Eq. (5) thengives:

Δq ^(f) _(AE)=−(σΔt/4πε₀)(Σ_(i) q ^(f) _(i)Σ_(j)Ω_(j<i)+Σ_(k≠AE) q ^(s)_(k)Σ_(j)Ω_(j<k)).   (6)

By assumption, all of the q^(f) _(i)'s are initially outside of the AEcell. Consequently, for each i, Σ_(j)Ω_(j←i) constitutes the solid angleof a closed surface (i.e., the entire calculation cell as j takes on thevalues for all of the faces of the cell) as seen from a point outside ofthe surface, i.e., the location of the i^(th) quantity of free charge.The same is true for the q^(s) _(k)'s since they too are outside of theAE cell. As shown in, for example, Phillips, H. B., Vector Analysis, NewYork, N.Y., John Wiley, 1933, page 114, the solid angle of a closedsurface as seen from a point outside of the surface is zero.Accordingly, Δq^(f) _(AE) is always zero thus making the total quantityof free charge q^(f) _(AE) in the AE cell always zero since byassumption the AE cell starts out with no free charge and does notreceive imposed free charges during the simulation. It should be notedthat the same considerations apply to quantities of bound charge, i.e.,subject to the same assumptions, an “always empty” cell for free chargesis also an “always empty” cell for bound charges.

II. Ωδ→0 PROCESSES

Turning to embodiments of the second improvement of the presentdisclosure, i.e., the flattened calculation cell process, FIG. 2 shows across-section through two representative calculation cells A and B onopposite sides of an interface which separates an isotropic mediumhaving a conductivity σ_(A) from an isotropic medium having aconductivity σ_(B) where, this being an interface, up, σ_(A)≠σ_(B). Asthe thickness δ of these interface calculation cells is reduced in size,i.e., as the calculation cells are flattened, the only faces of cells Aand B that continue to have substantial solid angles as seen from thequantities of charge in the system are the lower face a of cell A, theupper face b of cell B, and the interface face ab between the two cells.Those solid angles will be referred to as Ω_(a←i), Ω_(b←i), andΩ_(ab←i), respectively, for the redistributable free charges (f charges)and as Ω_(a←k), Ω_(b←k), and Ω_(ab←k) for the non-redistributable freecharges (s charges). The relationships among and the values of thesesolid angles will be derived for the i index, it being understood thatthe same relationships and values apply to the k index.

For each quantity of charge in the system, the magnitudes of the solidangles at faces a, b, and ab become equal as δ is reduced in sizebecause the locations of the faces become the same, i.e., for a quantityof charge in calculation cell i:

|Ω_(a←i)|=|Ω_(b←i)=|Ω_(ab←i)|.   (⁷)

Furthermore, for quantities of charge in cells A and B, as δ→0, thesolid angles of faces a, b, and ab each approach 2π:

|Ω_(a←A)|=|Ω_(b←A)|=|Ω_(ab←A)|=|Ω_(a←B)|=|Ω_(b←B)|=|Ω_(ab←B)|2π.   (⁸)

Reducing the size of δ, however, does not change the signs of the solidangles which remain the same as they were prior to flattening. Inparticular, for any given quantity of charge, the sign of the solidangle continues to depend on whether the quantity of charge “sees” theinside or the outside of the face relative to the internal volume of thecalculation cell. Consequently, taking, for example, Ω_(a←i) as thereference solid angle, we have the following relationships for aquantity of charge external to cells A and B:

Ω_(b←i)=−Ω_(a←i),   (9)

Ω_(ab←i)=−Ω_(a←i) when interface face ab is part of cell A, and   (10)

Ω_(ab←i)=Ω_(a←i) when interface face ab is part of cell B.   (11)

Further, for a quantity of charge in cell A and interface face ab a partof cell A, we have:

Ω_(ab←A)=Ω_(a←A)=Ω_(b←A)=+2π,   (12)

and for a quantity of charge in cell B and interface face ab part ofcell B, we likewise have:

Ω_(ab←B)=Ω_(b←B)=Ω_(a←B)=+2π.   (13)

The relationships of Eqs. (9)-(13) greatly simplify the determination ofspatial charge distributions at interfaces between materials havingdifferent properties. In particular, as will now be shown, forconductors having different conductivities, quantities of free chargeonly accumulate on the higher conductivity side of such an interface andthe quantity of free charge that accumulates depends on the differencein conductivity at the interface, i.e., σ_(diff)=σ_(A)−σ_(B), where wewill assume that σ_(A)>σ_(B). Before turning to that showing, we notethat relationships equivalent to those of Eqs. (9)-(13) can be derivedusing Ω_(b←i) or one of the Ω_(ab←i)'s as the reference solid angleinstead of Ω_(a←i), and then those equivalent relationships can be usedto derive the equations that follow in terms of the alternativereference solid angle. Also, as noted above, the second improvement canbe practiced without taking advantage of the relationship between thesolid angles of the two faces of a flattened calculation cell, ifdesired. Specifically, ab initio calculations can be performed for eachface if desired.

Using Eq. (4) and recalling that a_(i) in that equation is the smallerof the conductivities on the inside and outside of the j^(th) face, wecan write the following equations for representative interface cells Aand B, where we have assumed that σ_(A) and σ_(B) are both greater thanzero so that these cells do not contain s charge:

Δq ^(f) _(A)=−(Δt/4πε₀)(σ_(A)Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f) _(i)Ω_(a←i)+σ_(B)Σ_(i≠A) q^(f) _(i)Ω_(ab←i)+σ_(A) q ^(f) _(A)Ω_(a←A)+σ_(B) q ^(f)_(A)Ω_(ab←A))−(Δt/4πε₀)(σ_(A)Σ_(k≠A,B) q ^(s) _(k)Ω_(a←k)+σ_(B)Σ_(k≠A,B)q ^(s) _(k)Ω_(ab←k))+I ^(f) _(A) Δt, and   (14)

Δq ^(f) _(B)=−(Δt/4πε₀)(σ_(B)Σ_(i≠B) q ^(f) _(i)Ω_(b←i)+σ_(B)Σ_(i≠B) q^(f) _(i)Ω_(ab←i)+σ_(B) q ^(f) _(B)Ω_(b←B)+σ_(B) q ^(f)_(B)Ω_(ab←B))−(Δt/4πε_(o))(σ_(B)Σ_(k≠A,B) q ^(s)_(k)Ω_(b←k)+σ_(B)Σ_(k≠A,B) q ^(s) _(k)Ω_(ab←k))+I ^(f) _(B) Δt.   (15)

Rewriting these equations in terms of Ω_(a←i) and using therelationships of Eqs. (9)-(13) for the solid angles at faces a, b, andab, we have:

Δq ^(f) _(A)=−(Δt/47πε₀)((σ_(A)−σ_(B))Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f) _(i) Ω_(a←i)+2πq^(f) _(A)(σ_(A)+σ_(B)))−(Δt/4πε₀)(σ_(A)−σ_(B))Σ_(k≠A,B) q _(s)_(k)Ω_(a←k) I ^(f) _(A) Δt, and   (16)

Δq ^(f) _(B)=−(Δt/4πε₀)(4πq ^(f) _(B)σ_(B))+I^(f) _(B) Δt.   (17)

Finally, using the above definition of 6_(cliff) and defining a_(sum) asthe sum of a_(A) and a_(B), we obtain:

Δq ^(f) _(A) =−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f)_(i)Ω_(a←i)+(σ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(A)]−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σk≠A,Bq ^(s)_(k)Ω_(a←k) −I ^(f) _(A)], and   (18)

Δq ^(f) _(B) =Δt[(σ_(B)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(B) −I ^(f) _(B)].   (19)

It should be noted that for the quantity of redistributable free chargein cell A, the first summation in Eq. (18) (the i summation) excludesq^(f) _(A) but includes q^(f) _(B) for so long as cell B has a quantityof redistributable free charge and also includes quantities ofredistributable free charge (if any) in lower conductivity calculationcells other than the cell B directly across the interface from cell A(hereinafter all such lower conductivity calculation cells, includingthe cell B directly across the interface from cell A, will be referredto collectively as “B-type cells”).

The first summation also includes quantities of redistributable freecharge not located at an interface between two media, i.e., quantitiesof redistributable free charge located within the body (interior) of aconductor. Eq. (4) applied to three-dimensional calculation cells, e.g.,cubic calculation cells, will normally be used to calculate changes inthe quantities of such redistributable free interior charges during atime step Δt, although flattened calculation cells can be used ifdesired. Calculation cells which contain interior charges will bereferred to as int calculation cells. Such int calculation cells caninclude quantities of non-redistributable free charge (s charge) whenσ_(int)=0. In such a case, the second summation in Eq. (18) (the ksummation) will include those s charges. Table 1 summarizes the f, s, b,A, B, and int nomenclature used herein, where, as will be discussed, brepresents bound charge.

In view of the foregoing, in accordance with embodiments of the presentdisclosure, quantities of free charge can be quantities of: (1)redistributable free interface charge, (2) non-redistributable freeinterface charge (e.g., when σ_(B)=0; see below), (3) redistributablefree interior charge, or (4) non-redistributable free interior charge.In terms of the f and s nomenclature, f charges include redistributablefree interface charges and redistributable free interior charges and scharges include non-redistributable free interface charges andnon-redistributable free interior charges. As will be discussed below inconnection with the third improvement, quantities of bound charge canbe: (1) bound interface charge or (2) bound interior charge, neither ofwhich is redistributable since, unlike redistributable free charge,neither can redistribute by conduction. As also discussed below, for anisotropic dielectric, bound interior charge is associated with (directlyproportional to) free interior charge (either redistributable ornon-redistributable) at the same spatial location (see Eqs. (65)-(68)).

From the foregoing, it can be seen that in accordance with an aspect ofthe disclosure, up to six categories of charge can be used tomodel/simulate electrophysiological systems. Of course, in anyparticular simulation, not all of these possible categories need be usedand, in general, only some of the categories will be needed. The sixcategories can be organized in various ways, a particularly helpful onebeing: charge is treated as having two varieties, bound and free; boundcharge is treated as having two varieties, interface and interior; andfree charge is treated as having two varieties, redistributable andnon-redistributable, each of which is treated as having two varieties,interface and interior, where, for example, “treating” can comprisestoring some or all of the varieties in separate arrays and/or files.

It should be noted that the term “interior” does not mean that thecharges are within the region of interest but merely that they arewithin a region as opposed to at an interface between a region andanother region. For example, the point source used in Examples 1 and 3-5below is in air but outside the region of interest which is a conductiveslab in Example 1, a conductive cube in Example 3, a dielectric cube inExample 4, and a conductive/dielectric cube in Example 5. This pointsource is a quantity of non-redistributable free interior charge with noassociated bound interior charge because ε_(r)=1 at the location of thepoint source. It should also be noted that a calculation cell (eitherinterface or interior) that contains redistributable free charges doesnot contain non-redistributable free charges and vice versa since at anygiven point in time a given calculation cell is either conductive ornot.

Returning to Eqs. (18) and (19), the net change in the quantity ofredistributable free interface charge for the combination of calculationcells A and B during a time step Δt can be obtained by adding the twoequations together. Defining Δq^(f) _(tot)=Δq^(f) _(A)+Δq^(f) _(B) andgrouping source-type terms, we have:

Δq ^(f) _(tot) =−Δt](σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f)_(i)Ω_(a←i)+(σ_(sum)/2_(ε) ₀)q ^(f) _(A)+(σ_(B)/ε₀)q ^(f)_(B)]−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(k≠A,B) q ^(s) _(k)Ω_(a←k) −I _(f) _(A) −I^(f) _(B)],   (20)

which upon removing q^(f)g from the first summation and using Eq. (8)becomes:

Δq ^(f) _(tot) =−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(i≠A,B) q ^(f)_(i)Ω_(a←i)+(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)q ^(f) _(B)2π+(σ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f)_(A)+(σ_(B)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(B)]−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(k≠A,B) q _(s)_(k)Ω_(a←k) −I ^(f) _(A) I ^(f) _(B)].   (21)

Since σ_(diff)+2σ_(B)=σ_(sum), Eq. (21) can be written:

Δq ^(f) _(tot) =−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(i≠A,B) q ^(f)_(i)Ω_(a←i)+(σ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(A)(σ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f)_(B)]−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(k≠A,B) q ^(s) _(k)Ω_(a←k) I ^(f) _(A) −I ^(f)_(B)].   (22)

Finally, defining q^(f) _(tot)=q^(f) _(A)+q^(f)B, we have:

Δq ^(f) _(tot) =−Δt[(σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(j≠A,B) q ^(f) _(iΩ)_(a>i)+(σ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(tot)]−Δt](σ_(diff)/4πε₀)Σ_(k≠A,B) q ^(s)_(k)Ω_(a←k) −I ^(f) _(A) −I ^(f) _(B)].   (23)

Eq. (23) was derived by treating calculation cells A and B as beingseparated from one another by interface ab through which redistributablefree charge can pass. The same equation is obtained by treatingcalculation cells A and B as a single calculation cell (cell AB) withoutan internal interface. Using Eq. (4), we can write:

Δq ^(f) _(AB)=−(Δt/4πε₀)(σ_(A)Σ_(i≠AB) q ^(f) _(i)Ω_(a←i)+σ_(B)Σ_(i≠AB)q ^(f) _(i) ^(f)Ω_(b←i)+σ_(A) q ^(f) _(AB)Ω_(a←AB)+σ_(B) q ^(f)_(AB)Ω_(b←AB))−(Δt/4_(πε) _(o))(σ_(A)Σ_(k≠AB) q ^(s)_(k)Ω_(a←k)+σ_(B)Σ_(k≠AB) q ^(s) _(k)Ω_(b←k))+I ^(f) _(AB) Δt,   (24)

which using Eqs. (9), (12), and (13) applied to cell AB becomes:

Δq ^(f)AB =4tR6diff/47E60)Ei#AB q^(f)i 0ai (6sum/260)q ^(f)AB1Al[(σ_(diff) /47E6₀)Σ_(k)#_(AB) q^(s) _(k) 0_(a<) _(k) I^(f) _(AB)],  (25)

which, except for notation, is the same as Eq. (23).

As a third option, the net change in the quantity of redistributablefree interface charge for cells A and B during a time step Δt can beobtained by starting with Eq. (4) and writing equations corresponding toEqs. (14) and (15) but with interface ab treated as non-conducting,rather than conducting. The result for Δq^(f) _(tot) is again the sameas Eq. (23), but the individual Δq^(f)'s for cells A and B differ fromthose of Eqs. (18) and (19), e.g., the equation for Δq^(f) _(A) usesonly σ_(A) rather than depending on σ_(diff) and σ_(sum) as in Eq. (18).If desired, for the case where I_(f) _(B)=0 and q^(f) _(B)(t₀)=0, thedistribution given by Eqs. (18) and (19) can be obtained by treating theinterface as non-conducting and, at the end of each time step, shiftingthe charges accumulated on the low conductivity side of the interface tothe high conductivity side and setting the charges on the lowconductivity side to zero.

As an aside, when dealing with dielectrics, although the total quantityof bound charge can be computed at an interface between two dielectricmaterials having different relative dielectric constants by addingtogether the quantities of bound charge on the two sides of theinterface, because the polarization vector (and thus the displacementvector) has a curl, those two quantities of bound charge are calculatedusing two separate calculation cells, one on each side of the interface,rather than a single combined calculation cell as in Eq. (25) above(see, for example, the discussion of the use of two K values torepresent such an interface in Eqs. (59)-(62) below).

The free charge distribution at the interface between a conductor and anon-conductor is often of interest. For this case, σ_(B) is set equal tozero so that σ_(diff)=σ_(sum)=σ_(A). Also, for this case, I^(f) _(B),q^(f) _(B), and Δq^(f) _(B) are zero since any free charge in cell B isnot redistributable, i.e., free charge in cell B (if any) isnon-redistributable s charge. Eq. (18) then becomes:

Δq _(f) _(A(σ) _(B) ₌₀)=−Δt(σ_(A)/2ε₀)[(1/2π)Σ_(i≠A,B) q ^(f) _(i(σ)_(B) ₌₀)Ω_(a←i) +q ^(f) _(A(σ) _(B=0)) ]−−Δs[(σ_(A)/2ε₀)(1/2π)Σ_(k≠A) q^(s) _(k)Ω_(a←k) −I ^(f) _(A)],   (26)

where cell B has been explicitly removed from the first summation andreintroduced into the second summation since cell B does not contain fcharge but can now contain s charge. Eq. (26) also represents the netchange in the quantity of redistributable free charge at interface abduring a time step Δt since, as noted above, q^(f) _(B) and Δq^(f) _(B),because they are redistributable charges, are zero for the ag σ_(B)=0case.

As discussed in the '617/'466 patents (see, for example, FIG. 1B ofthose patents), the ability to calculate the quantity of charge thatmoves across the faces of calculation cells during a time step Δt allowsone to calculate time courses for the charges in electrophysiologicalsystems. Explicitly, from Eqs. (18) and (19), for the solid angle andflattened calculation cell improvements of the present disclosure, wehave the following expressions for the quantities of redistributablefree interface charge in representative interface cells A and B at timet_(n+i) based on the quantities of free charge at time t_(n) in thoseinterface calculation cells and the quantities of free charge in theother interface and interior calculation cells used to represent thesystem:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{q_{A}^{f}\left( {t_{n}}_{+ 1} \right)} = {{q_{A}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)} + {\Delta \; q_{A}^{f}}}} \\{= {{\left( {1 - {\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{sum}/2}ɛ_{0}}} \right){q_{A}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} -}} \\{{{\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{diff}/4}\; {\pi ɛ}_{0}{\sum\limits_{i \neq A}^{\;}{{q_{i}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Omega_{a\leftarrow i}}}} -}} \\{{{\Delta \; {t\left\lbrack {{{\sigma_{diff}/4}{\pi ɛ}_{0}{\sum\limits_{{k \neq A},B}^{\;}{{q_{k}^{s}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Omega_{a\leftarrow k}}}} - {I_{A}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} \right\rbrack}},{and}}}\end{matrix} & \;\end{matrix} & (27) \\{{{q_{B}^{f}\left( t_{n + 1} \right)} = {{{q_{B}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)} + {\Delta \; q_{B}^{f}}} = {{\left( {1 - {\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{B}/ɛ_{0}}}} \right){q_{B}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} + {{I_{B}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Delta \; t}}}},} & (28)\end{matrix}$

where the fact that q^(f) _(i), q^(s) _(k), I_(f) _(A), and/or I^(f)_(B) are or can be time dependent has been made explicit. For t₀, q^(f)_(A)(t₀) and q^(f) _(B)(t₀) are the original quantities of free chargein cells A and B at the beginning of the simulation. Likewise, q^(f)_(i)(t₀), q_(s) _(k)(t₀), I^(f) _(A)(t_(o)), and I^(f) _(B)(t₀) are theq^(f) _(i), q_(s) _(k), I^(f) _(A), and I^(f) _(B) values at thebeginning of the simulation.

Using Eq. (4), and the fact that the solid angle for a quantity ofcharge outside of a closed surface is zero and +47π when inside(Phillips, Vector Analysis, supra, page 114), Δq^(f) _(int) for arepresentative int calculation cell of an isotropic conductor can bewritten:

Δq^(f) _(int)=−(Δtσ _(int)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(int) +I ^(f) _(int) Δt,   (29)

where σ_(int) is the conductivity at the location of the quantity offree interior charge and I^(f) _(int) is the applied free charge at thatlocation (if any). The time course of redistributable free interiorcharge in such a representative conductive int calculation cell is then:

q^(f) _(int)(t _(n+1))=q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n))+Δq ^(f) _(int)=(1−Δtσ_(int)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n))+I ^(f) _(int)(t _(n))Δt,   (30)

where the possibility that I^(f) _(int) can be time dependent has beenmade explicit. As with Eqs. (27) and (28), q^(f) _(int)(t₀) and I^(f)_(int)(t₀) are the original q^(f) _(int) and I^(f) _(int) values at thebeginning of the simulation. If σ_(int)=0, then the quantity of freeinterior charge in the int cell is non-redistributable s charge and itstime course will depend on whether that s charge is constant or timevarying.

By proceeding through all the A and B calculation cells representing theinterface or interfaces of the system and all the int calculation cellsrepresenting free interior charges, the spatial charge distribution att_(n+i) is obtained from the spatial charge distribution at t_(n). Theprocess is then repeated to obtain the spatial charge distribution att_(n+2) using the spatial charge distribution at t_(n+1) as the startingpoint, and then the distribution at t_(n+3) starting with the t_(n+2)distribution, and so forth. In this way, the time course of the spatialcharge distribution of the system is obtained for as many time steps asdesired. It should be noted that for s charges, formal calculation cellsare often not needed since the charges are not redistributable and thuscan be represented by simply specifying a spatial location for thecharge. For example, a formal calculation cell was not used for thepoint source of Examples 3-5.

From Eqs. (19) and (28), we see that for I^(f) _(B)=0, the quantity oforiginal free interface charge (if any) in a B cell decays by conductionfrom the cell with a time constant of ε₀/σ_(B), and, after the decay, nofree charges accumulate in the cell. Any free charge added to thecalculation cell as a result of I^(f) _(B)≠0, if not replenished, decaysby conduction in the same manner as original free charge. As can be seenfrom Eq. (30), the same type of behavior occurs for int calculationcells containing quantities of redistributable free interior charge.

The time course of the quantity of redistributable free interface chargein an A cell (Eqs. (18) and (27)) is even more complicated and dependson (1) the sum and the difference of σ_(A) and σ_(B), (2) the quantityof redistributable free charge in cell A, (3) the quantity ofredistributable free charge added to cell A when I^(f) _(A)≠0, (4) thedistribution of all the other quantities of free charge in the system,i.e., the q^(f) _(i)(t_(n))'s and the q_(s) _(k)(t_(n))'s, and (5) thesolid angles of face a of cell A as seen from those other quantities offree charge, i.e., the solid angles Ω_(a<i) and Ω_(a<k).

From Eq. (23) (or Eq. (25)) and Eq. (26), the time courses for q^(f)_(tot) and q^(f) _(A)(σ_(B)=0) are:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{q_{tot}^{f}\left( t_{n + 1} \right)} = {{q_{tot}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)} + {\Delta \; q_{tot}^{f}}}} \\{= {{\left( {1 - {\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{sum}/2}ɛ_{0}}} \right){q_{tot}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} -}} \\{{{\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{diff}/4}{\pi ɛ}_{0}{\sum\limits_{{i \neq A},B}^{\;}{{q_{i}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Omega_{a\leftarrow i}}}} -}} \\{{{\Delta \; {t\left\lbrack {{{\sigma_{diff}/4}{\pi ɛ}_{0}{\sum\limits_{{k \neq A},B}^{\;}{{q_{k}^{s}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Omega_{a\leftarrow k}}}} - {I_{A}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)} - {I_{B}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} \right\rbrack}},}} \\{{and}}\end{matrix} & (31) \\\begin{matrix}{{q_{A{({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f}\left( t_{n + 1} \right)} = {{q_{A{({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)} + {\Delta \; q_{A{({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f}}}} \\{= {{\left( {1 - {\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{A}/2}ɛ_{0}}} \right){q_{A{({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} -}} \\{{{\Delta \; t\; {\sigma_{A}/4}{\pi ɛ}_{0}{\sum\limits_{{i \neq A},B}^{\;}{{q_{i{({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Omega_{a\leftarrow i}}}} -}} \\{{\Delta \; {{t\left\lbrack {{{\sigma_{A}/4}{\pi ɛ}_{0}{\sum\limits_{k \neq A}^{\;}{{q_{k}^{s}\left( t_{n} \right)}\Omega_{a\leftarrow k}}}} - {I_{A}^{f}\left( t_{n} \right)}} \right\rbrack}.}}}\end{matrix} & (32)\end{matrix}$

With regard to the σ_(B)=0 case, it should be noted that although thequantity of free charge in cell B cannot change as a result ofconduction, the quantity q^(S) _(B) of non-redistributable free chargein cell B, which is included in the last summation (the k summation) inEq. (32), can change when q^(S) _(B) is a function of time.

In some cases, the free charge distribution of interest is a steadystate distribution (the “ss” distribution). Steady state distributionswill normally be determined for systems which are not varying in time,but in some cases, ss distributions can be useful in modeling/simulatingsystems with time variation. For example, if the time course of appliedcharges and/or non-conservative fields is sufficiently slow compared tothe relaxation time(s) of the media making up the electrophysiologicalsystem, a series (i.e., a time series) of non-time varying, steady statecharge distributions may be sufficient to model/simulate the overalltime variation of the system.

From Eqs. (18), (19), and (29), and assuming that at steady state, theq^(s) _(k)'s and the individual I^(f) _(A)'s, I^(f) _(B)'s, and I^(f)_(int)'s do not vary with time (or, as discussed above, varysufficiently slowly so that they can be treated as constant for thepurposes of the calculation), the steady state distribution for σ_(B)≠0and σ_(int)≠0 is given by:

q ^(f) _(A) ^((ss))=−(σ_(diff)/σ_(sum))(1/2π)[Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f) _(i)^((ss))Ω_(a←i)+Σ_(k≠A,B,int) q ^(s) _(k) ^((ss))Ω_(a←k)]+(2ε₀/σ_(sum))I^(f) _(A) ^((ss)),   (33)

q _(f) _(B) ^((ss))=+(ε₀/ε_(B))I ^(f) _(B) ^((ss)), and   (34)

q ^(f) _(int) ^((ss))=+(ε₀/σ_(int))I ^(f) _(int) ^((ss),)   (35)

where, as in Eq. (18), the first summation in Eq. (33) includes allquantities of redistributable free interface charge in B-type cells, aswell as all quantities of redistributable free interior charges in intcalculation cells. In Eq. (33), we have made explicit that the secondsummation (the k summation) does not include int calculation cells sincewe are assuming that σ_(int)>0. We have also used underlining toindicate that under the assumptions applicable to this equation, thesecond summation excludes all B-type and all int-type cells and not justthe particular B cell and the particular int cell of Eqs. (34) and (35).The second summation has been retained because, as noted above, scharges do not require formal calculation cells, e.g., the point sourceof Examples 3-5 was not located in a formal calculation cell. Byretaining the second summation, the effects of s charges which do notreside in formal calculation cells are included in themodeling/simulation.

Adding Eqs. (33) and (34), we have for the steady state, total quantityof free charge at the interface:

q ^(f) _(tot) ^((ss))=−(σ_(diff)/σ_(sum))(1/2π)[Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f) _(i)^((ss))Ω_(a←i)+Σ_(k≠A,B,int) q ^(s) _(k) ^((ss))Ω_(a←k)]+(2ε₀/σ_(sum))I^(f) _(A) ^((ss))+(ε₀/σ_(B))I ^(f) _(B) ^((ss)),   (36)

which upon removing q^(f) _(B) ^((ss)) from the first summation andusing Eqs. (13) and (34) gives:

q^(f) _(tot) ^((ss))=−(σ_(diff)/σ_(sum))(1/2σ)[Σ_(i≠A,B) q ^(f) _(i)^((ss))Ω_(a<i)+Σ_(k≠A,B,int) q ^(s) _(k) ^((ss))Ω_(a<k)]+(2ε₀/σ_(sum))[I^(f) _(A) ^((ss)) +I ^(f) _(B) ^((ss))].   (37)

Alternatively, Eq. (37) can be derived directly from Eq. (23).

For σ_(B)=0, Eq. (37) becomes:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{q_{{tot}\mspace{14mu} {({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f\mspace{14mu} {({ss})}} = q_{A\mspace{14mu} {({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f\mspace{14mu} {({ss})}}} \\{{- {\left( {{1/2}\pi} \right)\left\lbrack {{\sum\limits_{{i \neq A},B}^{\;}{q_{i\mspace{14mu} {({\sigma_{B} = 0})}}^{f\mspace{11mu} {({ss})}}\Omega_{a\leftarrow i}}} +} \right.}}} \\{{\left. {\sum\limits_{k \neq A}{,{\underset{\_}{int}\mspace{14mu} q_{k}^{s\mspace{14mu} {({ss})}}\Omega_{a\leftarrow k}}}} \right\rbrack + {\left( {2{ɛ_{0}/\sigma_{A}}} \right)I_{A}^{f\mspace{14mu} {({ss})}}}},}\end{matrix} & (38)\end{matrix}$

where cell B has been reintroduced to the second summation (the ksummation) since cell B can contain s charge when σ_(B)=0.

Returning to Eq. (33) and recalling, as noted above, that the firstsummation (the i summation) in that equation includes all quantities ofredistributable free interface charge in B-type calculation cells andall quantities of redistributable free interior charges in int-typecalculation cells, we can rewrite the equation to read:

q _(f) _(A) ^((ss))=−(σ_(diff)/σ_(sum))(1/2π)Σ_(i≠A,B,int) q ^(f) _(i)^((ss))Ω_(a←i) +g ^(f) _(A) ^((ss),)   (39)

where, as in Eq. (33), the underlined subscripts B and int represent,respectively, all B-type cells and all int-type cells, and where g^(f)_(A) ^((ss)) is a source-type constant which is given by:

g _(f) _(A) ^((ss)=−(σ) _(diff)/σ_(sum))(1/2π)[Σ_(i=B,int) q ^(f) _(i)^((ss))Ω_(a←i)+Σ_(k≠A,B,int) q ^(s) _(k) ^((ss))Ω_(a←k)]+(2ε₀/σ_(sum))I^(f) _(A) ^((ss)).   (40)

Note that the first summation in Eq. (40), as well as that in Eq. (44)below, is a source type term since, as can be seen from Eq. (34), atsteady state, all of the q^(f) _(i) ^((ss))'s for the B-type cellscovered by the summation depend on their ag and I^(f) _(B) ^((ss))values which, by assumption, are constant and thus as seen from theA-type cells, these B-type cells act like constant sources. Also, againby assumption, the redistributable free interior charges of the intcells are constant because σ_(int) and I^(f) _(int) ^((ss)) are constantin Eq. (35), and thus these int-type cells also act like constantsources as seen from A-type cells.

An examination of Eqs. (39) and (40) reveals that they represent a setof simultaneous equations for the q^(f) _(i) ^((ss))'s at the higherconductivity sides (A sides) of each conductivity interface in thesystem which, in matrix notation, can be written:

Mq _(f(ss)) =g ^(f(ss)),   (41)

where:

m_(KK)=1,   (42)

m _(KL)=(σ_(diff)/σ_(sum))(1/2π)Ω_(K←L), and   (43)

g^(f) _(K) ^((ss))=−(σ_(diff) /σ_(sum))(1/2π)[Σ_(i=B,int) q ^(f) _(i)^((ss))Ω_(K<i)+Σ_(k≠K,B,int) q ^(s) _(k) ^((ss))Ω_(K<l)]+(2ε₀/σ_(sum))I^(f) _(L) ^((ss)),   (44)

where Ω_(K←L) is the solid angle of the a face of the K^(th) calculationcell as seen from the quantity of free charge of the L^(th) calculationcell, Ω_(K←i) is the solid angle of the a face of the K^(th) calculationcell as seen from the quantity of redistributable free interface chargeof the i^(th) B-type cell or the i^(th) quantity of redistributable freeinterior charge, Ω_(K←k) is the solid angle of the a face of the K^(th)calculation cell as seen from the k^(th) quantity of non-redistributables charge, and σ_(diff), σ_(sum), and I^(f) _(K) ^((ss)) are for theK^(th) calculation cell, specifically, the K^(th) higher conductivity Acell and its directly associated lower conductivity B cell.

These equations are solved using computer-implemented techniques such asthe Jacobi, Gauss-Seidel, and successive over relaxation (SOR) iterativetechniques, other iterative techniques, non-iterative techniques, orcombinations thereof. See, for example, Varga, Richard S., MatrixIterative Analysis, Englewood Cliffs, N.J., Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1962.Also, programs such as MATLAB (The MathWorks, Inc., Natick, Mass.) andthe free software package GNU Octave (www.gnu.org/software/octave/),contain procedures that can be used if desired. It should be noted thatusing Eqs. (27), (28), and (30), steady state solutions can also beobtained by moving forward in time until steady state conditions areachieved.

III. BOUND CHARGES FOR NON-CONDUCTIVE DIELECTRICS

Turning now to embodiments of the third improvement, we consider first aset of m isotropic, linear, homogeneous, dielectric materials, eachmaterial having a relative dielectric constant ε^(m) _(r), i.e., eachmaterial's permittivity ε^(m) equals ε_(r) ^(m)ε₀ and its susceptibilityχ^(m) equals (ε^(m)−ε₀)/ε₀ or, in terms of ε_(r) ^(m), χ^(m)=ε_(r)^(m)−1. For this initial analysis of the dielectric case, we will assumethat all of the materials are non-conductive. Unlike the conductive casewhere free charges may pass through interfaces between materials havingdifferent conductivities, bound charges, as their name implies, arebound to the material in which they are induced. In particular, for thematerials being considered, bound charges (also known as polarizationcharges) are found within the material at its interfaces with othermaterials, as well as at the locations of quantities of free chargewithin the material, with the sum of all of the quantities of boundcharge in the material being zero.

As above, for ease of presentation, in certain embodiments, we willtreat the case of a cubic calculation cell, the same analysis beingapplicable to calculation cells having other configurations. Also, thefirst and second improvements, as developed above in connection withfree charges, will be used in the analysis, it being understood that thethird improvement can be used separately or with only one of the firstand second improvements. We begin with a discussion of bound interfacecharge and then turn to bound interior charge.

A. Bound Interface Charge

We will assume that the calculation cell of interest is cell A of FIG. 1and that this calculation cell is located at an interface between thedielectric medium and another medium, the interface being at face ab. Inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure, the quantity of boundinterface charge induced at face ab of cell A is taken as zero while forall of the other faces of the calculation cell, i.e., face a and faces cthrough f in FIG. 1, the quantity of bound charge induced at the face isgiven by:

q ^(b−m) _(j)=−(χ^(m)/4π)(Σ_(i) q _(i)Ω_(j←i))   (45)

where the superscript b−m indicates bound interface charge of the M^(th)material, the index j indicates a face of the calculation cell otherthan the interface face ab, the index i covers all of the charges in thesystem and, as above, Ω_(j←i) is the solid angle of the j^(th) face asseen from the i^(th) quantity of charge, the solid angle being positivewhen the i^(th) quantity of charge sees the inward side of the j^(th)face and negative when it sees the outward side, where inward andoutward are with respect to the internal volume of the calculation cell.

In Eq. (45), the notation q_(i) without a superscript is used toindicate both free and bound charges of all types anywhere in thesystem, e.g., in calculation cells belonging or not belonging to them^(th) material. The quantities of free and bound charge represented byq_(i) thus include quantities of free and bound charge at interfaces, aswell as quantities within the materials making up the system (i.e., thequantities of free and bound interior charges). For this initialdielectric case where all materials are assumed to be non-conductive,the quantities of free charge included in q_(i) of Eq. (45) are onlyquantities of non-redistributable free charge (q_(s) _(i) charges),i.e., the free charge components of q_(i) are imposed charges which,after introduction, remain in place there being no conductivity by whichthey can redistribute. In the conductive case discussed in Section IVbelow, q_(i) is extended to include quantities of redistributable freecharge (interface and interior).

It should be noted that in order to induce bound charge, there needs tobe at least some free charge in the system. For example, in theexemplary embodiment of Example 4 below, the applied free charge is aquantity of free charge in the form of an applied point source locatedin a non-polarizable, non-conductor, i.e., air in Example 4. In thatexample, the point source is located above a non-conductive, dielectriccube which allows the solution in accordance with the present disclosurefor that example to be compared with the analytic solution for thesimilar configuration of a point source above a dielectric ofsemi-infinite extent. See Klee, M. M., “Biology's built-in Faradaycages,” Am. J. Phys., vol. 82, no. 6, pp. 451-459, May 2014, and, inparticular, Equation (28) of that article evaluated at t=0. This articlewill be referred to herein as “Klee 2014” and is incorporated herein inits entirety by reference.

In addition to point source stimulation, uniform field stimulation maybe of interest in some cases. Applied quantities of free charge can beused to model a uniform field by, for example, employing the geometry ofa parallel plate capacitor and applying a uniform distribution of chargeto each plate (positive charge on one plate and negative on the other).Such an arrangement produces a substantially uniform electric fieldbetween the plates at locations distant from the edges of the plates.Separated uniform distributions of applied free charge can also be usedto model the applied free charge distribution produced by anon-conservative field. As an alternative to quantities of applied freecharge, for some simulations, it may be convenient to employ an appliedelectric field to represent the applied source(s) imposed on anelectrophysiological system. In this case, instead of using solid anglesof the faces of calculation cells as seen from the applied free charges,fluxes of the applied electric field at the faces are used, i.e.,integrals of the normal component of the applied electric field at thefaces are used. Example 6 below illustrates this approach for the caseof dipole sources.

The foregoing considerations regarding the need for at least some freecharge in the system being modeled/simulated are not limited todielectric systems but also apply to conductive systems andconductive/dielectric systems. For purposes of this initial analysis ofthe dielectric case, we will assume that both the quantities of freecharge (if any) within the dielectric material of interest and thequantities of free charge (if any) outside of the dielectric material ofinterest are fixed in both time and space, this assumption being removedwhen we turn to the conductive dielectric case.

Returning to Eq. (45), from this equation, the total quantity of boundinterface charge induced in interface calculation cell A due to inducedcharges at face a and faces c through f can be written:

q ^(b−m) _(A)=Σ_(j=a,c,d,e,f) q ^(b−m)_(j)=−(χ^(m)/4π)(Σ_(j=a,c,d,e,f)Σ_(i) q _(i)Ω_(j←i)).   (46)

This expression can be simplified by (1) separating the quantities ofcharge within interface calculation cell A (both bound (q^(b−m) _(A))and free (q^(s−m) _(A))) from those outside of that cell and (2)recalling (see discussion following Eq. (6) above) that for a quantityof charge outside a calculation cell, the sum of the solid angles forall of the faces of the cell (i.e., including interface face ab) iszero:

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{q_{A}^{b - m} = {{- \left( {{\chi^{m}/4}\pi} \right)}\left( {{\sum\limits_{{j = a},c,d,e,f}{{q^{b - m}}_{A}\Omega_{j\leftarrow A}}} +} \right.}} \\\left. {{\sum\limits_{{j = a},c,d,e,f}{{q^{s - m}}_{A}\Omega_{j\leftarrow A}}} + {\sum\limits_{{j = a},c,d,e,f}{\sum\limits_{i \neq A}{q_{i}\Omega_{j\leftarrow i}}}}} \right) \\{= {{- \left( {{\chi^{m}/4}\pi} \right)}\left( {{\sum\limits_{{j = a},c,d,e,f}{{q^{b - m}}_{A}\Omega_{j\leftarrow A}}} +} \right.}} \\{\left. {{\sum\limits_{{j = a},c,d,e,f}{{q^{s - m}}_{A}\Omega_{j\leftarrow A}}} - {\sum\limits_{i \neq A}{q_{i}\Omega_{{ab}\leftarrow i}}}} \right).}\end{matrix} & (47)\end{matrix}$

For q^(b−m) _(A) and q^(s−m) _(A) (if any) located at the center of cellA, Ω_(j<A) is +4π/6 for each face of cell A so that Eq. (47) becomes:

q ^(b−m) _(A)=−(χ^(m)/4π)(q ^(b−m) _(A)(20/6)+q ^(s−m)_(A)(20π/6)−E_(i≠A) q _(i)Ω_(ab←i))   (48)

Using the second improvement of this disclosure, i.e., the flattenedcalculation cell process, the expression for q^(b−m) _(A) becomes evensimpler since in that case, Eq. (47) becomes:

q ^(b−m) A=−(χ^(m)/4π)(qb−m_(A)Ω_(a←A) +q ^(s−m) _(A)Ω_(a←A)−Σ_(i≠A) q_(i)Ω_(ab←i)),   (49)

which by using Eqs. (10) and (12) for Ω_(ab←i) and Ω_(a←A),respectively, becomes:

q _(b−m) _(A)=−(χ^(m)/4π)(2πq ^(b−m) _(A)+2πq^(s−m) _(A)+Σ_(i≠A) q_(i)Ω_(a←i)),   (50)

which upon rearrangement gives:

q^(b−m) _(A)=−[χ^(m)/(χ^(m)+2)][q ^(s−m) _(A)+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠A) q_(i)Ω_(a<i)],   (51)

or in terms of ε^(m) _(r):

q ^(b−m) _(A)=−[(ε_(r) ^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)][q ^(s−m)_(A)+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠A) q _(i)Ω_(a<i)].   (52)

Eq. (52) constitutes a set of simultaneous equations for the q^(b−m)_(i)'s of the material having the dielectric constant ε_(r) ^(m) as canbe seen most clearly by rewriting Eq. (52) so as to separate thequantities of bound interface charge of the m^(th) material from all ofthe other charges in the system:

q ^(b−m) _(A)=−[(ε_(r) ^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)][(1/2π)Σ_(i≠A) q ^(b−m)_(i)Ω_(a-77 i)]+g ^(m) _(A),   (53)

where g^(m) _(A) is given by:

g^(m) _(A)=−[(ε_(r) ^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)][q ^(s−m) _(A)+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠A)q* _(i)Ω_(a←i)),   (54)

where q*_(i) in Eq. (54) includes quantities of s charge of interfacecalculation cells of the m^(th) material other than cell A, quantitiesof s charge and associated bound charge (see Eq. (67) below) forinterior calculation cells of the m^(th) material, and quantities ofbound and s charge (interface or interior) of materials other than them^(th) material. For interior calculation cells, q*_(i) can also beformulated in terms of the reduced, non-redistributable, free interiorcharge of Eq. (69) below.

In matrix notation, these equations can be written:

Bq^(b−m)=g^(m),   (55)

where:

b_(KK)=1,   (56)

b_(KL)=(ε_(r) ^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)(1/2π)Ω_(K←L), and   (57)

g ^(m) _(k)=−[(ε_(r) ^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)][q ^(s−m) _(k)+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠K)q* _(i)Ω_(K←i)],   (58)

where Ω_(K←L) is the solid angle of the a face of the K^(th) calculationcell of the m^(th) material as seen from the quantity of bound charge ofthe L^(th) calculation cell of the m^(th) material, q^(s−m) _(k) is thequantity of s-type free charge in the K^(th) calculation cell, Ω_(K←i)is the solid angle of the a face of the K^(th) calculation cell as seenfrom the i^(th) quantity of q* charge as defined above. Because of theneed for at least some free charge in the system (see above), in Eqs.(55)-(58), at least one of the q^(s−m) _(k)'s or at least one s-typecharge of q* is different from zero or the system includes at least oneapplied source whose effects are modeled through an applied electricfield. As with Eqs. (41)-(44), Eqs. (55)-(58) are solved usingcomputer-implemented techniques of the types discussed above.

In cases where there is more than one dielectric material (all materialsstill assumed to be non-conductive), the quantities of bound charge forthe entire set of materials can be calculated using a process in which,for example, Eqs. (55)-(58) are solved seriatim for each material in theset with the quantities of bound charge in the other materials of theset being held constant, the process being iterated until a consistentset of quantities of bound charge for all of the materials is found.Alternatively, the equations for the individual materials can beassembled into a single matrix having, for example, the following formand solved simultaneously:

Bq^(b)=g,   (59)

where:

b _(KK)=1,   (60)

b _(KL)=(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)/(1/2π)Ω_(K←L), and   (61)

g _(K)=−[(Σ_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)][q ^(s) _(K)+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠K) q*_(i)Ω_(K←i)],   (62)

where the matrix B includes all of the calculation cells of the systemwhich contain quantities of bound interface charge, Ω_(K←L) is the solidangle of the a face of the K^(th) such calculation cell as seen from thequantity of bound interface charge of the L^(th) calculation cellwherever located (i.e., not limited to the bound interface charges of aparticular dielectric material), q^(s) _(k) is the quantity of s freecharge in the K^(th) calculation cell, Ω_(K←i) is the solid angle of thea face of the K^(th) calculation cell as seen from the i^(th) quantityof q* charge where q* charge includes quantities of s charge ofinterface calculation cells other than the K^(th) calculation cell andquantities of s charge and associated bound charge (see Eq. (67) below)for interior calculation cells, and ε_(r) ^(K) is the relativedielectric constant of the K^(th) calculation cell. In this case, twocalculation cells (two K values) are used at each location of eachinterface of the system where two materials having relative dielectricconstants >1 meet. For quantities of charge external to the twocalculation cells, the solid angle magnitudes for these two calculationcells are the same, but their signs are opposite. For the interaction ofa quantity of charge in one of the K cells with the other K cell, byanalogy with Eqs. (12) and (13), the solid angle in each case is +2π. Aswith Eqs. (41)-(44) and Eqs. (55)-(58), Eqs. (59)-(62) are solved usingcomputer-implemented techniques of the types discussed above.

B. Bound Interior Charge

For isotropic dielectrics, quantities of bound interior charges occuronly at the locations of free interior charges (either redistributableor non-redistributable) and are directly proportional to the quantitiesof free interior charge. Specifically, for interior bound charge,instead of Eq. (46), we have:

q ^(b) _(int)=−(χ/4π)(Σ_(j)Σ_(i) q _(i)Ω_(j←i)),   (63)

where χ is the susceptibility at the location of the int calculationcell, the j summation includes all of the faces of the calculation cell,there being no excluded interface face as in Eq. (46), and the isummation covers all of the charges in the system. Using the fact thatthe solid angle for a quantity of charge outside/inside a closed surfaceis zero/+4π, we have:

q ^(b) _(int)=−(χ)(q ^(b) _(int) +q ^(s) _(int) ),   (64)

where q^(s) _(int) is the non-redistributable free interior charge incell int. For conductive dielectrics discussed in the next section,q^(s) _(int) in Eq. (64) becomes q^(f) _(int) for int calculation cellsthat are conductive. Rearranging Eq. (64), we have:

q ^(b) _(int)=−(χ)/(1+_(χ))q ^(s) _(int),   (65)

or when the int cell is conductive:

q ^(b) _(int)=−(χ)/(1+₁₀₂ )q ^(f) _(int).   (66)

In terms of ε_(r), these equations can be written:

q ^(b) _(int)=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(s) _(int), and   (67)

q ^(b) _(int)=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(f) _(int).   (68)

The induced bound interior charge at the locations of free interiorcharges can also be considered as reducing the magnitude of the freecharges. Designating those reduced-magnitude charges as r charges, wehave:

q ^(s−r) _(int)=(1/ε_(r))q ^(s) _(int), and   (69)

q ^(f−r) _(int)=(1/ε_(r))q ^(f) _(int),   (70)

for non-conductive and conductive int calculation cells, respectively.

IV. BOUND CHARGE/FREE CHARGE PROCESS

In Section III, the dielectric material was assumed to benon-conductive. In accordance with embodiments of the disclosure,conductivity is introduced by alternately calculating free charge andbound charge distributions, with the free charge distribution beingtreated as fixed in time and space when the bound charge distribution isbeing calculated and vice versa. In particular, when calculating boundcharges, free charges are treated as fixed source charges and whencalculating free charges, bound charges are treated as fixed sourcecharges. In this way, the equations developed in Section III for anon-conductive dielectric and the equations developed in Sections I andII for a non-dielectric conductor become directly applicable to aconductive dielectric.

Compared to redistributions of free charge, redistributions of boundcharge are treated as occurring instantaneously. In particular, becauseelectrophysiological systems are primarily composed of water molecules,they are able to keep pace with changing electric fields havingfrequencies as high as a gigahertz. Indeed, water's ε_(r) of 80 onlydrops below 10 when the frequency rises above 100 GHz. Endogenouselectrophysiological activity, on the other hand, occurs at frequenciesfar below the gigahertz range. For example, rise times for actionpotentials propagating along axons are on the order of 1 msec,corresponding to frequencies in the kilohertz range, while the kineticsof the underlying opening and closing of ion channels in an axon'smembrane typically have time constants longer than ˜20 μsec,corresponding to frequencies below a megahertz. Higher frequencies,extending, in some cases, into the gigahertz range, are used in someexperimental studies performed on biological tissues, but except forsuch studies, the effects of frequency, as well as temperature and othervariables, on water's dielectric constant are generally not significant,and thus the water component of biological systems can be treated ashaving a constant relative dielectric constant of 80.

To simplify the notation, we will derive the equations that describe thetime course of the quantities of free and bound charge on the assumptionthat the electrophysiological system of interest is being modeled usingthe solid angle and flattened calculation cell processes, i.e., theequations will be derived assuming the first and second improvements arebeing used. Based on this derivation and the remainder of thisdisclosure, a skilled person will be able to derive the correspondingequations when either of the first and second improvements or both ofthose improvements are not employed.

Eqs. (55)-(58) or Eqs. (59)-(62) can be used as the starting point forthe derivation of the equations for the conductive case, with Eqs.(59)-(62) providing a somewhat simpler notation and thus will be used.Rewriting those equations to introduce t_(n) and t_(n+1) notation, wheren is the time step, we have:

Bq ^(b)(t_(n+1))=g(t _(n)),   (71)

where:

b_(KK)=1,   (72)

b_(KL)=(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)(1/2π)Ω_(K←L), and   (73)

g _(K)(t_(n))=−[(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)][q ^(s) _(K)(t _(n)) +q^(f) _(K)(t _(n))+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠K)(q ^(s) _(i)(t _(n))+q ^(f) _(i)(t_(n)))Ω_(K←i)],   (74)

where the notations q^(s) _(K)(t_(n)) and q^(s) _(i)(t_(n)) refer toquantities of non-distributable free charge and q^(f) _(K)(t_(n)) andq^(f) _(i)(t_(n)) refer to quantities of redistributable free charge inthe K^(th) and i^(th) calculation cells, respectively, at time t_(n). Asnoted above, at any given time, a given calculation cell can only haveone of s and f charges depending on whether the cell's conductivity iszero or greater than zero. Thus, either q^(s) _(K)(t_(n)) or q^(f)_(K)(t_(n)) is zero and likewise for q^(s) _(i)(t_(n)) or q^(f)_(i)(t_(n)). However, to provide a generally applicable equation, bothpossibilities are included in Eq. (74), it being understood that, inuse, only the appropriate possibility is employed for each calculationcell. If any of the q^(s) _(i)(t_(n))'s or q^(f) _(i)(t_(n))'s of Eq.(74) are for int calculation cells, then the reduced value of Eq. (69)or the reduced value of Eq. (70), respectively, is used in Eq. (74) sothat Eqs. (71)-(74) take account of the bound interior charge (att_(n+1)) associated with those free charges (at t_(n)) when calculatingthe bound interface charges (at t_(n+1)).

For purposes of calculating free charges at t_(n+1) (see below), fromEqs. (67) and (68), the bound charges at t_(n+1) in int calculationcells resulting from free charges in those cells at t_(n) are:

q ^(b) _(int)(t _(n+1))=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(s) _(int)(t _(n)), or  (75)

q ^(b) _(int)(t _(n+1))=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(f) _(int)(t_(n)),   (76)

depending on whether the int cell is non-conductive or conductive.

As above, Eqs. (71)-(74) can be solved using computer-implementedtechniques of the type discussed above. The solution gives thequantities of bound interface charge of the system at time t_(n+1).These quantities of bound interface charge along with the quantities ofbound interior charge given by Eqs. (75) and (76) are then used tocalculate the system's quantities of free charge at time t_(n+1).Beginning with the redistributable free interface charge, for the casewhere calculation cells A and B are both conductive, Eqs. (27) and (28),with the effects of quantities of bound charge included, become:

q^(f) _(A)(t _(n+1))=(1−Δtσ _(sum)/2_(ε) ₀)q ^(f) _(A)(t _(n))−(Δtσ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(b) _(A)(t _(n+1))−Δtσ _(diff)/4πεhd 0Σ_(i≠A)(q ^(f)_(i)(t _(n))+q ^(b) _(i)(t _(n+1)))Ω_(a←i) −Δt[σ_(diff)/4πε₀ 93_(k≠A,B)(q ^(s) _(k)(t _(n))+q ^(b) _(k)(t _(n+1)))Ω_(a←k) −I ^(f)_(A)(t _(n))], and   (77)

q ^(f) _(B)(t _(n+1))=(1−Δtσ _(B)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(B)(t _(n))−(Δtσ _(B)/ε₀)q^(b) _(B)(t _(n+1))+I ^(f) _(B)(t _(n))Δt,   (78)

where, as in Eqs. (3) and (4), the i and k summations are over differentcalculation cells, i.e., conductive and non-conductive cells,respectively. For the case where σ_(B)=0, we have from Eq. (32) with theeffects of quantities of bound charge included:

q ^(f) _(A(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t _(n+1))=(1−Δtσ _(A)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(A(σ) _(B)₌₀₎(t _(n))−(Δtσ _(A)/2ε₀)q ^(b) _(A(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t _(n+1))−Δtσ_(A)/4σε₀Σ_(i≠A,B)(q _(i) ^(f)(σ_(B)=0) (t _(n))+q ^(b) _(i(σ) _(B)₌₀)(t _(n+1)))Ω_(a←i) −Δt[σ_(A)/4πε₀Σ_(k≠A)(q ^(s) _(k)(t _(n))+q ^(b)_(k(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t _(n+1)))Ω_(a←l) −I ^(f) _(A)(t _(n))],   (79)

where again the i and k summations are over different calculation cells.In this case, the k summation includes the B cell associated with the Acell for which the calculation is being performed, i.e., the k summationpicks up any quantities of S or bound charge in the associated B cell.

As discussed above in connection with Eq. (18), the i and k summationsof Eqs. (77) and (79) include quantities of redistributable andnon-redistributable free charge (f and s charges) in int calculationcells. For those calculation cells, the bound charges (q^(b) _(i) andq^(b) _(k)) used in the i and j summations are those given by Eqs. (76)or (75), respectively.

For systems that include redistributable free charges in int calculationcells, from Eq. (30) with the effects of bound charge in the calculationcell included, we have:

q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n+1))=(1−Δtσ _(int)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n))−(Δtσ_(int)/ε₀)q ^(b) _(int)(t _(n+1))+I ^(f) _(int)(t _(n))Δt,   (80)

where q^(b) _(int)(t_(n+1)) is given by Eq. (76).

Eqs. (77)-(78) or Eq. (79) and Eq. (80) are evaluated at all of theconductive calculation cells of the system thus giving a full set ofquantities of free charge at t_(n+1) which along with the quantities ofbound charge calculated using Eqs. (71)-(76) give all of the quantitiesof charge at t_(n+1) thus completing a time step. The process, i.e.,Eqs. (71)-(76) followed by Eqs. (77)-(78) or Eq. (79) and Eq. (80), isthen repeated with the just-calculated t_(n+1) values becoming thestarting values for the next time step. For example, for t_(n+2), Eqs.(71)-(74) become:

Bq ^(b)(t _(n+2))=g(t _(n+1)),   (81)

where:

b_(KK)=1,   (82)

b _(KL)=(ε_(r) ^(L)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)(1/2π)Ω_(K←L), and   (83)

g _(K)(t _(n+1))=−[(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)][q ^(s) _(K)(t_(n+1))+q ^(f) _(K)(t _(n+1))+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠K)(q ^(s) _(i)(t _(n+1))+q ^(f)_(i)(t _(n+1))) Ω_(K←i)],   (84)

Eqs. (75)-(76) become:

q ^(b) _(int)(t _(n+2))=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(s) _(int)(t _(n+1)), and  (85)

q ^(b) _(int)(t _(n+2))=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n+1)),  (86)

Eqs. (77)-(78) become:

q ^(f) _(A)(t _(n+2))=(1−Δtσ _(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(A)(t _(n+i))−(Δtσ_(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(b) _(A)(t _(n+2))−Δtσ _(diff)/4πε₀Σ_(i≠A)(q ^(f) _(i)(t_(n+1))+q ^(b) _(i)(t _(n+2)))Ω_(a←i) −Δt[σ_(diff) /4πε₀Σ_(k≠A,B)(q ^(s)_(k)(t _(n+1))+q ^(b) _(k)(t _(n+2)))Ω_(a←k) −I ^(f) _(A)(t _(n+1))],and   (87)

q ^(f) _(B)(t _(n+2))=(1−Δtσ _(B)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(B)(t _(n+1))−(Δtσ_(B)/ε₀)q ^(b) _(B)(t _(n+2))+I ^(f) _(B)(t _(n+1))Δt,   (88)

and Eq. (80) becomes:

q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n+2))=(1−Δtσ _(int)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(int)(t _(n+1))−(Δtσ_(int/ε) ₀)q ^(b) _(int)(t _(n+2))+I ^(f) _(int)(t _(n+1))Δt.   (89)

As another example, for the first time step, Eqs. (71)-(74) become:

Bq ^(b)(t ₁)=g(t ₀),   (90)

where:

b_(KK)=1,   (91)

b _(KL)=(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)(1/2π)Ω_(K←L), and   (92)

g _(K)(t ₀)=−[(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)][q ^(s) _(K)(t ₀)+q ^(f)_(K)(t ₀)+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠K)(q ^(s) _(i)(t ₀)+q ^(f) _(i)(t ₀))Ω_(K←i)],  (93)

Eq. (75)-(76) become:

q ^(b) _(int)(t ₁)=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(s) _(int)(t ₀), and   (94)

q ^(b) _(int)(t ₁)=−(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r))q ^(f) _(int)(t ₀),   (95)

Eqs. (77)-(78) become:

q ^(f) _(A)(t ₁)=(1−Δtσ _(sum)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(A)(t ₀)−(Δtσ _(sum)/2ε₀)q^(b) _(A)(t ₁)−tσ _(diff)/4σε₀Σ_(i≠A)(q ^(f) _(i)(t ₀)+q ^(b) _(i)(t₁))Ω_(a←i) −Δt[σ_(diff)/4πε₀Σ_(k≠A,B)(q ^(s) _(k)(t ₀)+q ^(b) _(k)(t₁))Ω_(a←k) I ^(f) _(A)(t ₀)], and   (96)

q ^(f) _(B)(t ₁)=(1−Δtσ _(B)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(B)(t ₀)−(Δtσ _(B)/ε₀)q ^(b)_(B)(t ₁)+I ^(f) _(B)(t ₀)Δt,   (97)

and Eq. (80) becomes:

q ^(f) _(int)(t ₁)=(1−Δtσ _(int)/ε₀)q ^(f) _(int)(t ₀)−(Δtσ _(int/ε) ₀)q^(b) _(int)(t ₁)+I ^(f) _(int)(t ₀)Δt.   (98)

It should be noted that these equations include free charges at to butnot bound charges, since bound charges only exist once there are freecharges, i.e., for this formulation of the time series, bound chargesare first computed at t₁.

In practice, the quantities of bound and free charge need not be storedfor all of the time steps, but rather just two sets of quantities ofbound and free charge need be stored, i.e., one for the “prior” timestep and one for the “present” time step being computed. Once the“present” time step calculations are completed, the “prior” time stepvalues can be replaced by the newly-calculated values and the processrepeated. Note that Eqs. (71)-(80) involve quantities of bound charge att_(n+1), but not at t_(n), so that only one set of quantities of boundcharge needs to be stored. However, in practice, it can be helpful tostore the quantities of bound charge for the prior time step for use asthe starting point for the calculation of the quantities of bound chargefor the present time step when using an iterative technique to calculatequantities of bound charge such as a Jacobi iteration (see, for example,Example 5 below).

Time series can be maintained for values that may be of interest for theparticular system being simulated, e.g., quantities of bound and/or freecharge values at a particular location of interest. The number of timesteps employed will depend on the goals and/or the results of thesimulation. For example, in certain embodiments, the goal of thesimulation may be to determine the time course of quantities of boundand/or free charge at one or more locations of interest, e.g., in theregion of the mouth of a pore in a biological membrane, and the processcan be terminated when the quantities of free and/or bound charge becomeasymptotic and/or when the change in the quantities of free chargeand/or bound charge per time step drops below a predetermined value. Avariety of criteria for terminating a simulation will be evident toskilled persons from the present disclosure.

It should noted that for some simulations, flattened calculation cellscan be used in combination with non-flattened calculation cells. Forexample, at the locations of source charges, e.g., charges due to I_(f)_(int)'s, three dimensional calculation cells, e.g., cubic calculationcells, can be used so that free charge decay at those locations isdetermined using the same calculation process, e.g., the solid angleprocess, as used at interfaces. Three dimensional calculation cells canalso be useful in simulating an anisotropic medium since theconductivity values and/or the relative dielectric constants of thefaces of the calculation cells can be selected to account for theanisotropicity of the medium. Also, when the system being simulatedincludes non-conservative fields acting at an interface, threedimensional calculation cells can be used on either side of theinterface.

V. FLOW CHARTS

FIGS. 3-8 set forth representative flow charts that can be used in thepractice of the present disclosure. These flow charts are, of course,merely provided for purposes of illustrating embodiments of thedisclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention asdefined by the claims in any manner.

FIG. 3 sets forth a flow chart that can be used for the initial steps(the setup steps) of a simulation. It includes defining the simulationto be performed, defining the calculation parameters, defining thesystem geometry, and defining the system's electrical parameters.Parameters other than those used in FIG. 3 can be used to define thesimulation and the order in which the parameters are defined need not bethat shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 starts with the calculation of solid angle values using thesystem geometry defined in FIG. 3. These values establish the electricalcoupling between the calculation cells and sources to be used in thesimulation. In many cases, it will be convenient to calculate the solidangles in a stand alone program and store the results in a file that isread by a main program at the time simulations are performed. Forexample, if the effects of varying an electrical parameter are ofinterest, having the solid angles in a file can save run time as aseries of simulations with different values for the parameter areperformed.

Once the solid angle values have been calculated, one or moresimulations are performed using one or more of the representative flowcharts of FIGS. 5-8. The choice of simulation to be performed will, ofcourse, depend on the particular system being modeled and theelectrophysiological phenomena of interest. In some cases, it may bedesirable to perform an initial simulation taking into account both thesystem's conductive and dielectric properties (FIG. 8) and based on theresults of that simulation switch to a simpler simulation such as adielectric simulation (FIG. 7) or a conductor or steady state conductorsimulation (FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively).

Once a charge distribution has been obtained, if desired, electricalpotentials can be calculated using an equation of the form:

Φ=(1/4πε₀)Σ_(i) q _(i) /r _(i)   (99)

where Φ is the potential assuming the zero of potential is at infinity,the summation is over all quantities of charge in the system, i.e., allquantities of free and bound charge, and r_(i) is the distance from thei^(th) quantity of charge to the point at which the potential is beingcalculated. It should be noted that as in the '617/'466 patents, theimprovements of this disclosure use the charge first process wherecharge distribution(s) are calculated first and only then (if desired)potentials are calculated from the charge distribution(s) as opposed tofirst determining electrical potential distribution(s) and thendifferentiating the potential distribution(s) to obtain chargedistribution(s).

The steps set forth in the flow charts of FIGS. 3-8 or in other flowcharts developed based on the present disclosure can be readilyimplemented using a variety of computer equipment and a variety ofsoftware programming languages, e.g., FORTRAN, which is well-suited forscientific calculations. In this regard, as is typical for scientificcalculations, the charge distributions of the invention will normally bedetermined in at least double precision. Other programming languagesthat can be used in the practice of the disclosure include, withoutlimitation, BASIC, PASCAL, C, C⁺⁺, and the like. More than oneprogramming language can be used in the practice of the disclosure ifdesired.

Output from the calculation process can be in electronic and/or hardcopy form, and can be displayed in a variety of formats, including intabular and graphical form. For example, graphs, including topographicalgraphs, can be prepared using commercially available data presentationsoftware such as MICROSOFT's EXCEL program and/or R.

The computer-implemented tools of the disclosure can be provided tousers on a non-transitory computer-readable medium with instructionsstored thereon that, when executed by a processor, perform the steps ofthe solid angle process, the flattened calculation cell process, and/orthe bound charge/free charge process. Non-limiting examples of suchmedia include diskettes, CDs, flash drives, and the like. The processesof the disclosure can also be provided to users on-line through, forexample, “cloud” computing. The processes can be performed on variouscomputing platforms, including personal computers, workstations,mainframes, supercomputers, etc. In practice, the computer-implementedtools disclosed herein are able to model/simulate the electricalbehavior of in vivo, in situ, and in vitro physiological systems,including, without limitation, nerves, muscles, tissues, organs, wholeorganisms, and single cell and multiple cell laboratory preparations.

VI. EXAMPLES

Without intending to limit its scope in any manner, the disclosure isfurther illustrated by the following examples.

Example 1

This example illustrates representative benefits associated with usingthe solid angle process. As discussed in the '617/'466 patents,Equations (1) and (2) of those patents result in some residual charge inthe body of a conductor. The present example demonstrates that the solidangle process generates charges only in surface calculation cells of aconductor and not in the body of the conductor. Consequently, only thesurface calculation cells need be included in the simulation when thesolid angle process is used which significantly reduces computationtime.

The problem of a point source in air above the center of a slab(rectangular parallelepiped) of a conductive material (σ=0.5 S/m;ε_(r)=1.0) was used to illustrate this effect. The slab was representedby 41×41×5 cubic calculation cells (total number of calculation cellsequal to 8405). The point source was located at the center of a cubiccalculation cell spaced three calculation cells above the calculationcells representing the upper surface of the slab facing the pointsource, i.e., when the calculation cells representing the lower surfaceof the slab are given the index 1, the calculation cells representingthe upper surface of the slab have the index 5 and the calculation cellrepresenting the point source has the index 9. The calculation cellcontaining the point source had zero conductivity, i.e., the pointsource was s charge. Steady state (ss) values were calculated and, interms of calculation cells A and B of FIG. 2, σ_(A)=0.5 S/m and σ_(B)=0at the interfaces of the slab with air. (Note that for this problem, thesteady state solution is independent of the value of σ_(A). The same istrue for the free charge steady state solutions of the other examples.)

FIG. 9 shows the results of the simulations. In particular, this figureshows calculated quantities of free charge at steady state in a row ofcalculation cells that extends between two sides of the slab and islocated at the middle of the slab, i.e., the row is located at index 3when the lower surface of the slab has index 1 and the upper surface hasindex 5. In this figure, the quantity of free charge in the calculationcells has been normalized using the analytic solution for the steadystate, free charge density Σ^(f) _(analytic) ^((ss)) induced by a pointsource at the surface of a conductive body of semi-infinite extent.Assuming the point source is located on the z-axis of a Cartesiancoordinate system whose origin is at the conductor's surface, Σ^(f)_(analytic) ^((ss)) is given by:

Σ^(f) _(analytic) ^((ss))=−(1/2π)q ₀ d(x2+y ² +d ²)^(−3/2),   (100)

where d is the distance between the point source and the conductor'ssurface and d₀ is the point source's quantity of charge, a signed value.The maximum value of this function occurs at x=y=0 and is given by:

Σ^(f) _(max) ^((ss)) =−q ₀/(2πd ²)   (101)

For the cubic calculation cells used in this example, the product ofΣ^(f) _(max) ^((ss)) times the area of a face of a calculation cellprovides a convenient normalization factor for the calculated chargedistributions since the product provides a measure of the maximumquantity of charge in a calculation cell. Thus, in FIG. 9, the valuescalculated by the simulation for the above middle row of calculationcells were divided by this product and then multiplied by 100 to givethe percentage values shown in the figure.

The solid line in FIG. 9 represents the results achieved using theprocess of the '617/'466 patents, while the dashed line shows theresults achieved using the solid angle process. Recalling that except atthe edges of the slab, the charge should be zero, the improvementprovided by the solid angle process (dashed line) is evident. Table 2sets forth the values plotted in FIG. 9. The difference between the twoprocesses is further illustrated in this table, with the largestnon-edge normalized value for the process of the '617/'466 patents being7.1092×10⁻¹, while that for the solid angle process is only 1.6176×10⁻⁹,almost a billion times smaller.

The small values for internal calculations cells for the solid angleprocess allows those internal calculation cells to be skipped in thesimulation. For the system of this example, this reduces the number ofcalculation cells needed to represent the conductive slab from 8,405 to3,842, a reduction of 54%.

Although the calculations reported in this example were for a conductor,the same improvement results when the solid angle process is used fordielectrics or conductive dielectrics. It should be noted that theelectric fields of this example are conservative electric fields, i.e.,fields whose effects on a spatial charge distribution can be representedby a 1/r² law. The solid angle process is based on the 1/r² law but usesit more accurately than the process of the '617/'466 patents as shown bythe above results.

Example 2

This example calculates the steady state distribution of free charge onthe surface of a conductive cube and uses that distribution as abenchmark for determining the accuracy of the Ωδ→0 processes. Thissystem serves as a benchmark because, as discussed below, a capacitancevalue for a conductive cube can be calculated from the free chargedistribution and, while there is no analytic solution for thecapacitance of a conductive cube, upper and lower bounds are known.Specifically, upper and lower bounds have been obtained for thenormalized capacitance C_(norm) of a conductive cube in a non-conductivemedium, where C_(norm) is given by:

C _(norm) =C/(4πε₀ a),   (102)

where a is the edge length of the cube and C is the capacitance for thatedge length. As reported by Wintle, H. J., “The capacitance of the cubeand square plate by random walk methods,” J. Electrostatics, vol. 62,pp. 51-62, 2004, C_(norm) is bounded between 0.6596 and 0.6691.

Using the Ωδ→0 processes and square-shaped, flattened calculation cells,capacitance values were determined for a conductive cube of a fixed edgelength as a function of the number (n) of calculation cells per edge ofthe cube, with n being varied between 3 and 71 and thus the total numberof flattened calculation cells varying between 54 (3×3×6) and 30,246(71×71×6). Larger values of n could, of course, have been used, but aswill be shown below, the normalized capacitance became asymptotic wellbefore n=71.

The total charge Q introduced into the cube was held constant for all ofthe simulations. Steady state solutions were obtained using Eqs.(41)-(44) with σ_(diff)=σ_(sum)=σ_(A) and all of the q^(f) _(i)^((ss))'s, q^(s) _(k) ^((ss))'s, and I^(f) _(K) ^((ss))'s equal to zero.Jacobi iteration was performed and as a starting point for theiteration, the total charge Q was divided equally among all of theflattened calculation cells making up the surface of the cube. Voltageswere calculated at the center of the cube using Eq. (99) and capacitancevalues were calculated by dividing the total charge by the calculatedvoltage (C=Q/Φ). The capacitance values calculated in this way were thenconverted to normalized capacitance values using Eq. (102).

The results are shown in FIG. 10. As can be seen in this figure, thenormalized capacitance rises rapidly as the number of calculation cellsincreases, reaching a value of 0.6601 for n=71. Wintle's lower bound of0.6596 is reached for n=41. Importantly, even with as few as 3calculation cells per edge, the calculated C_(norm) value is within 5%of the 0.6601 value for n=71 (i.e., C_(norm)=0.6303 for n=3) and iswithin 1% for 11 calculation cells (i.e., C_(norm)=0.6546 for n=11).

The results of these simulations show that the Ωδ→0 processes easilypass the conductive cube benchmark test and even very small numbers offlattened calculation cells provide at least qualitatively accurateresults.

Example 3

In this example and in Examples 4 and 5, a point source outside of acube is used to illustrate various aspects of the present disclosure. Inthis example, the cube is conductive (σ>0), but non-polarizable(ε_(r)=1), while in Example 4, the cube is polarizable (ε_(r)>1), butnon-conductive (σ=0), and in Example 5, the material making up the cubeis both conductive and polarizable (σ>0, ε_(r)>1).

The Ωδ→0 processes were used in each of these examples. In Example 5,the bound charge/free charge process was also used. Except where theeffects of the fineness of the discretization was being examined (seeFIGS. 14 and 16), each of the six surfaces of the cube was divided into41×41 square-shaped, flattened calculation cells and the point sourcewas placed 4 units above the center of the cube's top surface, where aunit was equal to the edge length of the cube divided by the number ofcalculation cells per edge, i.e., in the notation of Example 2, a unitequaled a/n. When fineness of the discretization was being examined, thenumber of calculation cells per edge was increased with the point sourcestill at its location for the n=41 case.

Because these examples used flattened calculation cells, rather thancubic calculation cells, normalization of charge distributions (bothfree and bound) was performed slightly differently than in Example 1.Specifically, the quantity of charge calculated for a flattenedcalculation cell was divided by the area of a face of the calculationcell to give a charge density value which was multiplied by 100 anddivided by Σ^(f) _(max) ^((ss)) of Eq. (101) to give a percentage value(the normalized charge value). FIG. 11 shows the results of applyingthis normalization process to the analytical charge distribution of Eq.(100) evaluated at the locations (centers) of calculation cells along amidline of the top surface of the cube. As can be seen, the normalizedfree charge distribution for the analytic solution is 100% directlyunder the point source (the 0 calculation cell) and drops off rapidly toessentially 0% as one moves outward from that location, but neverbecomes negative.

FIG. 12 shows the results obtained using the Ωδ→0 processes. Inparticular, Eqs. (41)-(44) were used with: (1) σ_(diff)=σ_(sum)=σ_(A),(2) the I^(f) _(K) ^((ss))'s and the q^(f) _(i) ^((ss))'s equal to zero,and (3) q^(s) _(k) ^((ss)) equal to and located at the q₀ of Eqs. (100)and (101). Jacobi iteration was performed to determine the steady state,free charge distribution. As a starting point for the iterative process,the quantity of free charge in all of the flattened calculation cellsmaking up the surface of the cube was set equal to zero. As can be seenin FIG. 12, the normalized free charge distribution calculated using theΩδ→0 processes is essentially identical to the analytic solution of FIG.11.

The distributions, however, differ slightly in the following two ways.First, the analytical solution gives peak values, while the Ωδ→0processes, specifically, the solid angle process, givesintegrated/averaged values. This is illustrated in FIG. 13 which is anexpanded view around calculation cell 0 for the analytic distribution ofFIG. 11 (dashed curve) and the distribution of FIG. 12 for the Ωδ→0processes (solid curve). As can be seen, the value that results from theuse of solid angles (solid curve) is smaller than the peak value thatresults from the analytic solution (dashed curve), the absolute value ofthe difference in this case being ˜2%.

As shown in FIG. 14, this difference between the two distributionsbecomes smaller as the discretization becomes finer. Specifically, FIG.14 plots the absolute value of the difference between the normalizedcharge density for calculation cell 0 obtained using the Ωδ→0 processesand that of the analytic solution as a function of the number ofcalculation cells along the edge of the cube. The first data pointcorresponds to the absolute value of the difference shown in FIG. 13where n=41 and the remaining data points show the results for n=51, 61,71, and 81. The absolute value of the difference between the twonormalized charge distributions drops below 1% for n=81. As can be seenin FIG. 14, the difference becomes asymptotic as n increases since theΩδ→0 processes are solving the problem of a point source above a finitecube, not above a semi-infinite volume, and thus the two solutions arenot, and should not be, identical.

The second difference between the Ωδ→0 processes and the analyticsolution also arises because the charge distribution of the Ωδ→0processes is for a finite cube, while the analytic solution is for aconductive body of semi-infinite extent. This difference is illustratedin FIG. 15 which is an expanded view of the normalized free chargedistributions around calculation cell 19 for the analytic solution ofFIG. 11 (dashed curve) and the Ωδ→0 processes of FIG. 12 (solid curve).As can be seen, the solution according to the Ωδ→0 processes changessign as it approaches the edge of the cube (calculation cell 20), whilethe analytic solution does not. That is, for the finite cube, theinduced charge distribution at the top surface of the cube has one signnear the edges of the top surface and the opposite sign in the body ofthe surface. FIG. 16 further illustrates this effect for a finerdiscretization, i.e., the number of calculation cells per edge in FIG.16 was 81, instead of 41 as in FIG. 15.

This reversal in sign also occurs for the bottom and side surfaces ofthe finite cube (data not shown). That is, like the edges of the topsurface, the charge distributions of the bottom and side surfaces of thecube are of the opposite sign to the charge distribution in the body ofthe top surface. In this way, no net free charge is induced in the cubeby the external point source, i.e., the induced positive and negativefree charges are in balance with one another.

A further simulation was performed for the σ>0, σ_(r)=1 case in whichthe time course of the development of quantities of free charge at thesurface of the cube was calculated. Instead of Eqs. (41)-(44), Eq. (32)was used, which for this simulation, with I^(f) _(A)(t_(n)) equal tozero for all t_(n), became:

q _(f) _(A(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t _(n+1))=(1−Δtσ _(A)/2_(ε) ₀)q ^(f) _(A(σ) _(B)₌₀₎(t _(n))−(Δtσ _(A)/4πε₀)(Σ_(i≠A,B) q ^(f) _(i(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t_(n))Ω_(a←i) +q ₀Ω_(a←0)),   (103)

where q₀ is the q₀ of Eqs. (100) and (101). As discussed in connectionwith Eq. (26), for this simulation with σ_(B)=0, the free charge in theB cells was given by:

q ^(f) _(B(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎=0   (104)

for all of the B cells and all t_(n).

σ_(A) in Eq. (103) was given a value of 0.5 S/m which is representativeof a biological medium and makes the relaxation time (τ-sigma) of theconductive medium equal to 1.77×10⁻¹¹ seconds (τ-sigma=ε₀/σ_(A)). A Δtof 1.77×10⁻¹² seconds was found suitable for the simulation, i.e.,Δt=τ-sigma/10, although other time steps can be used if desired. Theinitial free charge distribution (t=t₀) was zero free charge in all ofthe flattened calculation cells making up the surface of the cube.

The results are shown in FIG. 17 where normalized quantities of freecharge at the center of the top surface of the conductive cube isplotted versus time in units of τ-sigma. As set forth in Klee 2014 (seeEquation (27)), the analytic solution for the corresponding point for asemi-infinite conductor is given by:

Σ^(f)(t)=Σ^(f) _(max) ^((ss))(1−e^(−t/τ)),   (105)

where, for σ_(r)=1, τ in this equation equals 2τ-sigma (see Equation(22) of Klee 2014). For a conductivity of 0.5 S/m, the analytic is thus3.54×10⁻¹¹ seconds.

FIG. 18 is a plot of 1 00·Σ^(f)(t)/Σ^(f) _(max) ^((ss)) over the sametime period as FIG. 17. As can be seen, the time courses are essentiallyidentical. However, as with the spatial distributions, there are slightdifferences in the time courses due to the differences in the problemsbeing solved. These differences are illustrated in FIGS. 19 and 20.Specifically, FIG. 19 is an expanded view of the center portions ofFIGS. 17 and 18, where the solid curve is the solution for the finitecube using the Ωδ→0 processes, while the dashed curve is the analyticsolution for the semi-infinite conductor. As can be seen, the solutionfor the semi-infinite conductor rises somewhat faster than that for thefinite cube, thus achieving the larger magnitude compared to the finitecube for the analytic steady state solution for the center point shownin FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 shows the complex behavior of the charges at the edge of thecube, specifically, calculation cell 20. As can be seen, the normalizedcharge starts out positive, changes sign, reaches it maximum absolutevalue at about t=5·τ-sigma, and finally reaches its asymptotic value(see FIG. 15) at ˜20-30 τ-sigma. This complex behavior results fromfeedback between portions of the cube that develop positive normalizedcharge (the body of the top surface of the cube) and portions thatdevelop negative normalized charge (the edges of the top surface and allof the bottom and side surfaces). The spatial relationships among theseportions and between the portions and q₀ differ, thus leading tointeractions that vary with time as the feedback process moves thecharges for all of the portions into their steady state positions andvalues.

Example 4

As discussed above in Example 3, this example is directed to the casewhere the point source is outside of a cube that is polarizable but notconductive (a dielectric cube), as opposed to a cube that is conductivebut not polarizable (a conductive cube) as in Example 3. The geometry,discretization, and normalization were the same as in Example 3, butinstead of solving Eqs. (41)-(44), Eqs. (55)-(58) were solved, againusing a Jacobi iteration with the starting point for the iteration, inthis case, being zero bound charge in all of the flattened calculationcells making up the surface of the cube. Like Eqs. (41)-(44), Eqs.(55)-(58) employ the Ωδ→0 processes.

From Klee 2014, specifically, Equation (28) evaluated at t=0, theanalytic solution for a point source above a semi-infinite dielectric isgiven by:

Σ^(b) _(analytic)=[(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r)+1)]Σ^(f) _(analytic) ^((ss)),  (106)

which using Eq. (101) can be written:

Σ^(b) _(analytic)=[(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r)+1)]Σ^(f) _(max) ^((ss)) d ³(x ² +y ²+d ₂)^(−3/2),   (107)

or in normalized form:

Σ^(b) _(analytic-normalized)=100[(ε_(r)−1)/(ε_(r)+1)]d ³(x ² +y ² +d²)^(−3/2).   (₁₀₈)

FIG. 21 shows Eq. (108) evaluated for ε_(r) values of 2, 4, 8, 16, and64 (bottom to top curves), while FIG. 22 shows the results obtainedusing Eqs. (55)-(58) with g^(m) _(K) for all K's given by:

g ^(m) _(k)=−[(ε_(r) ^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)][(1/2π)q ₀],   (109)

where again the five curves (bottom to top) are for ε_(r) values of 2,4, 8, 16, and 64.

As can be seen in FIG. 22, the normalized bound charge distributionscalculated using the Ωδ→0 processes are essentially identical to theanalytic solutions of FIG. 21. The same differences illustrated in FIGS.11-16 for the free charge distributions, i.e., smaller magnitudes forthe Ωδ→0 processes and sign reversals at the edges of the top surface ofthe cube and for the bottom and sides of the cube, exist for the boundcharge distributions (data not shown).

Comparing FIG. 22 with FIG. 12, we can see that as ε_(r) ^(m) becomeslarge, the bound charge distribution for a non-conductive, polarizablecube induced by a point source approaches the steady state, free chargedistribution for a conductive, non-polarizable cube subjected to thesame point source. This can be seen from Eqs. (33) and (52) which forthe particulars of FIG. 22 and FIG. 12 can be written:

q ^(f) _(A) ^((ss))=−(1/2π)[Σ_(i≠A) q ^(f) _(i) ^((ss))Ω_(a←i) +q₀Ω_(a←0)], and   (110)

q ^(b−m) _(A)=−(1/2π)[Σ_(i≠A) q ^(b−m) iΩ _(a←i) +q ₀Ω_(a←0)][(ε_(r)^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1)].   (111)

As ε_(r) ^(m)→∞, the last factor of Eq. (111), i.e., the (ε_(r)^(m)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(m)+1) factor, approaches one, thus causing the boundcharge distribution of that equation to approach the free chargedistribution of Eq. (110).

Example 5

As discussed above in Example 3, this example is directed to the casewhere the point source is outside of a cube that is both conductive andpolarizable, and thus the example illustrates the bound charge/freecharge process, as well as the Ωδ→0 processes.

σ_(A) was given a value of 0.5 S/m and ε_(r) ^(K) was given a value of80, both of which are representative of a biological medium. Thegeometry, discretization, and normalization were the same as in Examples3 and 4, and the Δt was the same as in Example 3, but now the simulationalternated between bound charge and free charge calculations with Eqs.(71)-(74) being solved first for the quantities of bound charge at timet_(n+1) followed by solving Eq. (79) for the quantities of free chargeat t_(n+1) using the newly-calculated quantities of bound charge att_(n+1) and the previously-calculated quantities of free charge att_(n). Specifically, for the particulars of this simulation, Eqs.(71)-(74) and (79) become:

Bq ^(b)(t _(n+1))=g(t _(n)),   (112)

where:

b_(KK)=1,   (113)

b_(KL)=(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(Σ_(r) ^(K)+1)(1/2π)Ω_(K←L),   (114)

g _(K)(t _(n))=−[(ε_(r) ^(K)−1)/(ε_(r) ^(K)+1)][q ^(f) _(K)(t_(n))+(1/2π)Σ_(i≠K) q ^(f) _(i)(t _(n))Ω_(K←i)+(1/2π)q ₀Ω_(K←0)],  (115)

and

q ^(f) _(A(σ) _(B) ₀₎(t _(n+1))=(1−Δtσ _(A)/2ε₀)q ^(f) _(A(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t_(n))−(Δtσ _(A)/2ε₀)q ^(b) _(A(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t _(n−1))−Δtσ_(A)/4πε₀Σ_(i≠A,B)(q ^(f) _(i(σ) _(B) ₌₀₎(t _(n))+q ^(b) _(i(σ) _(B)₌₀₎(t _(n+1)))Ω_(a←i) −Δt[σ_(A)/4πε₀(q ₀)Ω_(a←0)].   (116)

Eqs. (112)-(115) were solved using a Jacobi iteration with the startingpoint for the first Jacobi iteration of the first time step (t=t₁) beingzero bound charge in all of the flattened calculation cells making upthe surface of the cube and thereafter being the quantities of boundcharge in the cells calculated in the prior time step. The initial freecharge distribution (t=t₀) was zero free charge in all of the flattenedcalculation cells making up the surface of the cube.

Bound charge iterations were stopped when the magnitude of the change inthe quantity of bound charge per iteration for each of the calculationcells dropped below 1×10⁻⁶ elementary charges for q₀ equal to 100elementary charges. Convergence of the bound charge to this terminationcriterion was achieved in 23 steps for the t₁ calculation. Thereafter,because the final bound charge distribution for the t_(n) time step wasused as the starting point for Jacobi iteration for the t_(n+1) timestep and because the free charge distribution changed slowly with timefor the chosen Δt (i.e., Δt=τ-sigma/10), that starting point was closeto the final bound charge distribution and thus the number of iterationsneeded to satisfy the termination criterion drop rapidly, specifically,for the particulars of this simulation, to 9 iterations for time steps 2through ˜360, to 8 iterations for time steps ˜360 to ˜740, and so forthuntil just 2 iterations were needed for approximately the 3,400^(th)time step and thereafter until the simulation was completed at 4,000time steps.

FIG. 23 shows the results for this example. Specifically, in thisfigure, the normalized quantities of free charge and bound charge at thecenter of the top surface of the conductive/dielectric cube are plottedversus time in units of τ-sigma. FIG. 24 shows the results for theanalytic solution for the corresponding point for a semi-infiniteconductor/dielectric (see Equations (27)-(28) and FIG. 5 of Klee 2014).Note the longer time course of these figures compared to that of FIGS.17 and 18. This longer time course is the result of the relativedielectric constant being equal to 80, as opposed to 1 as in FIGS. 17and 18.

As with the comparisons of Examples 3 and 4, a comparison of FIGS. 23and 24 shows that the solution provided by the processes of the presentdisclosure is essentially identical to the analytic solution. In bothcases, the free charge starts at zero and rises to a steady state valuewhile the bound charge starts high and declines to zero. (It should benoted that at steady state, the bound charge can be greater than zerowhen the bound charge is located in a non-conductive medium.) Again,there are the slight differences, detailed above in Examples 3 and 4,between the two solutions as a result of the analytic solution being fora semi-infinite volume instead of a finite cube. For example, thenormalized, steady state, quantity of free charge at the center of thetop surface of the finite cube is smaller than the 100% value of theanalytic solution. Similarly, the time courses are slightly different.

Interestingly, the time course differences between FIGS. 23 and 24 aresmaller than those shown in FIGS. 19 and 20 for the conductive,non-polarizable case. These reduced differences result from the factthat for ε_(r) ^(K)=80, the initial calculation of the bound chargedistribution (the calculation for the t₁ time step) contains essentiallyall of the spatial differences between the solutions for the twoproblems, e.g., the existence of charges of opposite sign near the edgesof the top surface and at the bottom and side surfaces of the finitecube. Thereafter, as time progresses, quantities of free chargeessentially simply replace quantities of bound charge at the locationsof the bound charge established by the initial calculation. For example,instead of seeing a biphasic time course for calculation cell 20 likethat shown in FIG. 20 for a conductive cube, for a conductive/dielectriccube with a large dielectric constant, the quantity of free charge forcalculation cell 20 simply increases monotonically as it replaces thequantity of bound charge at that location which already has a negativevalue compared to the value at the center of the top surface of thecube. This replacement of quantities of bound charge by quantities offree charge in accordance with the processes of the present disclosurecauses the time course of those processes to match that of theanalytical solution because a similar replacement occurs for theanalytic solution (see, for example, FIG. 4 of Klee 2014).

Example 6

This example illustrates the use of the processes of the presentdisclosure as a tool to discover heretofore unknown mechanisms andphenomena of electrophysiological systems. In particular, using the Ωδ→0processes, the example shows that charges accumulate in concavities inelectrophysiological systems. Such concavities are ubiquitous, the Nodesof Ranvier of myelinated nerves, the dendritic spines of corticalneurons, the junctional folds of neuromuscular junctions, and the sulciof the brain being just a few of the many examples that could be named.

FIG. 25 shows the geometry of the system used to explore thisphenomenon. A total of just under 10,000 square-shaped, flattened,calculation cells were used in the modeling/simulation. The calculationcells were distributed to provide a racetrack-shaped conductor havingtwo facing concavities 13 a and 13 b in the right vertical arm of theconductor, as well as four concave (as seen from the conductor) corners15 a, 15 b, 15 c, and 15 d in the outer surface of the conductor andfour convex (again, as seen from the conductor) corners 17 a, 17 b, 17c, and 17 din the inner surface.

In terms of calculation cells, the dimensions of the conductor's outersurface were 99 cells in length, 33 cells in height, and 11 cells indepth, while those of the inner surface were 77 cells in length, 11cells in height, and 11 cells in depth. The perimeters around theconductor's inner and outer surfaces were thus 176 and 264 cells,respectively. The bottom surface of concavity 13 a was 15 cells belowthe conductor's top surface and the top surface of concavity 13 b was 15cells above the conductor's bottom surface, thus leaving a gap of 3cells between those surfaces. The bottom surface of the top concavitywas defined by 121 (11×11) square-shaped, flattened, calculation cells,as was the top surface of the bottom concavity. For the purposes of thisstudy, the relative dielectric constant of the conductor was taken to be1.0 and all of the flattened, square-shaped, calculation cells were ofthe same size, namely, 1 micron×1 micron. The time step approach of Eq.(32) was used with a σ_(A) value of 0.5 S/m and a Δt value of 1.77×10⁻¹²seconds. The simulation was continued until steady state was achievedwhich was defined as the point where the change in the quantity of freecharge per time step for each of the calculation cells dropped below1×10⁻⁶ elementary charges for an applied potential difference Δϕ (seebelow) of 100 millivolts.

The applied source which generated the charge distributions was a 11×11array of equal strength dipoles 19 located at the midplane of the leftvertical arm of the conductor with the positive ends of the dipolesfacing upward. The electric field produced by an individual dipole canbe written in Cartesian coordinates as:

E _(x)=3Pzx/(4πε₀ r ⁵),   (117)

E _(y)=3Pzy/(4πε₀ r ⁵) , and   (118)

E _(z)=3Pz ²/(4πε₀ r ⁵)−P/(4πε₀ r ³).   (119)

where, without loss of generality, we have assumed that the dipole islocated at the origin of the coordinate system and oriented in the +zdirection. In these equations, x, y, and z are the coordinates of thefield point, r is the distance from the dipole to the field point, and Pis the strength of the dipole in, for example, coulomb-meters whendistances are expressed in meters.

An applied potential difference Δϕ, e.g., a Nernst potential arisingfrom an ionic concentration difference, can be converted into a P valueby considering a continuous dipole layer (double layer) of constantdipole moment p per unit area. The potential difference across such alayer is given by:

Δϕ=p/ε ₀,   (120)

which upon rearranging and multiplying by a surface area S associatedwith an individual dipole gives a P value of:

P=pS=ε₀ΔϕS.   (121)

Using this value for P in Eqs. (117)-(119), the redistributable freecharge moving across a face of a calculation cell in a time period Δtdue to an applied potential difference expressed as individual dipolesis then the sum of the components of the dipole fields normal to theface of the calculation cell produced by the individual dipolesevaluated at, for example, the center of the face of the calculationcell times up, σ_(A)Δt S_(cell), where S_(cell) is the surface area ofthe face at which the calculation is performed. For the purposes of thisexample, the same S_(cell) was used throughout the system and S for allof the individual dipoles was set equal to S_(cell), it being understoodthat, if desired, S_(cell) can vary from location to location and S canvary from individual dipole to individual dipole and need not be equalto S_(cell).

The sign of the charge movement across a face of a calculation cell as aresult of the normal field produced by an individual dipole depends onthe orientation of the face's outward normal relative to the directionof the dipole. For the geometry of FIG. 26, only one of the componentsof the dipole field acts at each flattened calculation cell and theoutward normal at the face is either parallel or anti-parallel to thedirection of the component. For example, for the top surface of theconductor and face a of FIG. 2 as the reference face, the component thatacts at the face is E_(z) of Eq. (119), the outward normal is downward,the relative orientation is anti-parallel, and, for those locationswhere E_(z) is positive, i.e., locations where the first term of Eq.(119) is greater than the second term such as the flattened calculationcells directly above the array of dipoles, charge is driven into theflattened calculation cells by the dipoles.

More generally, for a set of individual dipoles having strengths P_(i)and unit normals n_(i), a face having a unit outward normal n, anddistances n and unit vectors n_(f→d) from the center point of the faceto the dipoles, the quantity of redistributable free charge Δq^(f)entering the calculation cell through the face can be written:

Δq ^(f)=−(σ_(A) ΔtS _(cell)/4πε₀)(Σ_(i)(P _(i) /r _(i) ³)(3)(n _(n) ·n_(f→d))(n·n _(f→d))−n _(i) ·n),   (122)

where the dots between the unit vectors represent dot products. For theflattened calculation cells directly above the dipoles in FIG. 25,Δq^(f) is positive since n·n_(f→d) is positive and n_(i)·n_(f→d) andn_(i)·n are negative, so that (3(n_(i)·n_(f→d))(n·n_(f→d))−n_(i)·n) isnegative, making the entire expression positive. As will be evident,when one or more dipole sources are used, Eq. (122) or an equivalentequation, becomes an additional term in Eq. (1) and thus in all of thesubsequent equations based on Eq. (1).

The results of the simulations for the system of FIG. 25 are shown inFIGS. 26-29. These figures show the surface charge distributions and, inthe case of FIG. 29, the voltage distribution for the upper portion ofthe conductor of FIG. 25, the charge and voltage distributions for thelower portion being the negative of the distributions shown. Thedistribution of FIG. 26 is in a horizontal plane passing through thebottom surface of concavity 13 a, and the distributions of FIGS. 27-29are in the plane of FIG. 25.

The charge distributions have been normalized to the magnitude of thesurface charge density on the inside of the conductor's outer surfacedirectly adjacent to the layer of dipoles, i.e., the point identified bythe reference number 21 in FIG. 25, which location, as discussed below,is insensitive to the presence or absence of concavities 13 a and 13 b,and which is an area of high surface charge density. The voltagedistribution of FIG. 29 has been normalized to ½Δϕ). The horizontal axisin FIG. 27 lies along path 25 of FIG. 25 between locations 23 and 24;the horizontal axis in FIG. 28 lies along path 26 of FIG. 25 betweenlocations 21 and 22; and the horizontal axis of FIG. 29 lies along apath midway between paths 25 and 26 that begins at the dipole layer inthe left arm of the conductor and continues to the midpoint of the rightarm.

As illustrated by FIG. 26, concavities are powerful charge collectors.The magnitudes of the surface charge density along the bottoms of theconcavities used in this example are more than 85% of the magnitude ofthe surface charge density directly adjacent to the dipoles and risessharply at the junctions between the concavity's bottom and side walls.These effects are further illustrated in FIGS. 27 and 28 where thesurface charge densities rise sharply for the portions of paths 25 and26 within cavity 13 a, reaching maxima for the flattened calculationcells at locations 22 and 24.

FIG. 28 shows that the concavities at 15 a and 15 b also produceincreases in the surface charge density, while FIG. 27 shows that theconvexities at 17 aand 17 b produce decreases in the surface chargedensity. The decrease in surface charge density at a convexity can besufficient to change the sign of the density as illustrated in FIG. 27for the system without concavities 13 a and 13 b (see, in particular,the portion of the open data point curve under reference number 17 b inFIG. 27). A comparison of the curves for the filled and open data pointsof FIGS. 27 and 28 show that the surface charge densities in the regionof the applied sources is insensitive to the presence (filled datapoints) or absence (open data points) of concavities 13 a and 13 b.

A comparison between FIGS. 26-28 and FIG. 29 illustrates the starkcontrast in terms of complexity between charge distributions and voltagedistributions. The charge distributions reflect and respond to the localgeometry of the system, while the voltage distribution provides anaverage of those charge distributions which washes out the underlyingcomplexity. The charge distributions thus provide more opportunities foraffecting biological function than the voltage distribution.

As can be seen from the foregoing examples, the three improvements ofthe present disclosure, i.e., the Ω process, the δ→0 process, and thealternating bound charge/free charge process, provide highly accuratecharge distributions. The processes are therefore useful inmodeling/simulating electrophysiological systems and users can employthem with confidence that the spatial and temporal charge distributionsthey provide are accurate representations of the biological problembeing addressed.

VII. FEATURES

Based on the foregoing, the disclosure includes, but is not limited to,the following features. The features, as well as their variousparagraphs and subparagraphs, can be used individually and in any andall combinations.

A. Ω Process

Feature 1: A computer-implemented process for computing and displaying aspatial distribution, a time series, or a spatial distribution and atime series of at least one electrical variable for at least a portionof an electrophysiological system, said method comprising:

(I) modeling said at least a portion of an electrophysiological systemby a method that comprises:

(A) inputting data to a computer regarding structure and at least oneelectrical property of said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system;

(B) simulating, using the computer, at least one spatial chargedistribution for said at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem without first determining and differentiating an electricalpotential distribution, wherein simulating comprises determiningquantities of charge in a plurality of calculation cells, each of saidplurality of calculation cells having at least two faces;

(II) using the computer to determine the spatial distribution, the timeseries, or the spatial distribution and the time series of theelectrical variable from the at least one spatial charge distributionsimulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein for at least one (or a plurality, or a majority, or essentiallyall, or all) of said plurality of calculation cells, a quantity ofcharge for the calculation cell is determined in step (I)(B), at leastin part, using a solid angle of a face of the calculation cell as seenfrom a quantity of charge in at least one other calculation cell (orfrom quantities of charge in a plurality of (or in a majority of, or inessentially all of, or in all of) the other calculation cells) of saidplurality of calculation cells.

Feature 2: The computer-implemented process of Feature 1 wherein for atleast one of said plurality of calculation cells, a quantity of chargefor the calculation cell is determined in step (I)(B), at least in part,using a solid angle of a face of said calculation cell as seen from aquantity of charge in said calculation cell.

Feature 3: The computer-implemented process of Feature 1 wherein the atleast one electrical variable is selected from the group consisting ofelectrical potentials, electric fields, currents, current densities,quantities of charge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistancevalues, and time constants.

Feature 4: The computer-implemented process of Feature 1 wherein in step(I)(B) at least one of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a flattened calculation cell having only two faceswith substantial areas as seen from quantities of charge in the othercalculation cells of said plurality of calculation cells.

Feature 5: The computer-implemented process of Feature 4 wherein aquantity of charge for the flattened calculation cell is determinedusing ab initio solid angle calculations for only one face of the cell.

Feature 6: The computer-implemented process of Feature 1 wherein in step(I)(B) at least one of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is an interface calculation cell.

Feature 7: The computer-implemented process of Feature 1 wherein in step(I)(B) at least two of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a pair of first and second interface calculationcells that oppose one another on opposite sides of an interface betweena first volume having first electrical properties and a second volumehaving second electrical properties.

Feature 8: The computer-implemented process of Feature 7 wherein thefirst and second interface calculation cells are a pair of flattenedcalculation cells, each flattened calculation cell having only two faceswith substantial areas as seen from quantities of charge in the othercalculation cells of said plurality of calculation cells.

Feature 9: The computer-implemented process of Feature 8 whereinquantities of charge for the pair of flattened calculation cells isdetermined using ab initio solid angle calculations for only one face ofone of the cells of the pair.

Feature 10: The computer-implemented process of Feature 1 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is an interior calculation cell.

(1) Free Charge

Feature 11: The computer-implemented process of any of Features 1-10wherein said at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step(I)(B) comprises at least one redistributable free charge distribution.

Feature 12: The computer-implemented process of Feature 11 wherein saidat least one redistributable free charge distribution is a steady statedistribution.

(a) Interface Calculation Cells

Feature 13: The computer-implemented process of Feature 11 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least two of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a pair of first and second interface calculationcells that oppose one another on opposite sides of an interface betweena first volume having a first conductivity and a second volume having asecond conductivity, the conductivity of the first interface calculationcell being the first conductivity and the conductivity of the secondinterface calculation cell being the second conductivity.

Feature 14: The computer-implemented process of Feature 13 wherein asinputted in step (I)(A), said first and second conductivities aredifferent.

Feature 15: The computer-implemented process of Feature 14 wherein saidfirst conductivity is greater than zero and the second conductivity isequal to zero.

Feature 16: The computer-implemented process of Feature 15 wherein, instep (I)(B), the first interface calculation cell contains a quantity ofredistributable free charge.

Feature 17: The computer-implemented process of Feature 15 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one quantity of imposed redistributable freecharge is introduced into the first interface calculation cell.

Feature 18: The computer-implemented process of Feature 17 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is applied free charge.

Feature 19: The computer-implemented process of Feature 17 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is free charge associated with thedirect action of a non-conservative field.

Feature 20: The computer-implemented process of Feature 15 wherein, instep (I)(B), the second interface calculation cell contains a quantityof non-redistributable free charge.

Feature 21: The computer-implemented process of Feature 15 wherein asinputted in step (I)(A), said first and second conductivities are eachgreater than zero, with the first conductivity being greater than thesecond conductivity.

Feature 22: The computer-implemented process of Feature 21 wherein, instep (I)(B), the first and second interface calculation cells eachcontain a quantity of redistributable free charge.

Feature 23: The computer-implemented process of Feature 21 wherein, instep (I)(B), only the first interface calculation cell contains aquantity of redistributable free charge.

Feature 24: The computer-implemented process of Feature 21 wherein instep (I)(B), at least one quantity of imposed redistributable freecharge is introduced into at least one of the first and second interfacecalculation cells.

Feature 25: The computer-implemented process of Feature 24 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is applied free charge.

Feature 26: The computer-implemented process of Feature 24 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is free charge associated with thedirect action of a non-conservative field.

(b) Interior Calculation Cells

Feature 27: The computer-implemented process of Feature 11 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one calculation cell of the plurality ofcalculation cells is an interior calculation cell.

Feature 28: The computer-implemented process of Feature 27 wherein, asinputted in step (I)(A), the interior calculation cell has aconductivity greater than zero.

Feature 29: The computer-implemented process of Feature 28 wherein, instep (I)(B), the interior calculation cell contains a quantity ofredistributable free charge.

Feature 30: The computer-implemented process of Feature 28 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one quantity of imposed redistributable freecharge is introduced into the interior calculation cell.

Feature 31: The computer-implemented process of Feature 30 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is applied free charge.

Feature 32: The computer-implemented process of Feature 27 wherein, asinputted in step (I)(B), the interior calculation cell has aconductivity equal to zero.

Feature 33: The computer-implemented process of Feature 32 wherein, instep (I)(B), the interior calculation cell contains a quantity ofnon-redistributable free charge.

(2) Bound Charges

Feature 34: The computer-implemented process of any of Features 1-10wherein said at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step(I)(B) comprises at least one bound charge distribution.

(a) Interface Calculation Cells

Feature 35: The computer-implemented process of Feature 34 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least two of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a pair of first and second interface calculationcells that oppose one another on opposite sides of an interface betweena first volume having a first relative dielectric constant and a secondvolume having a second relative dielectric constant, the relativedielectric constant of the first interface calculation cell being thefirst relative dielectric constant and the relative dielectric constantof the second interface calculation cell being the second relativedielectric constant.

Feature 36: The computer-implemented process of Feature 35 wherein asinputted in step (I)(A), said first and second relative dielectricconstants are different.

Feature 37: The computer-implemented process of Feature 36 wherein saidfirst relative dielectric constant is greater than one and the secondrelative dielectric constant is equal to one.

Feature 38: The computer-implemented process of Feature 37 wherein, instep (I)(B), the first interface calculation cell contains a quantity ofbound charge.

Feature 39: The computer-implemented process of Feature 36 wherein saidfirst and second relative dielectric constants are each greater thanone.

Feature 40: The computer-implemented process of Feature 39 wherein, instep (I)(B), the first and second interface calculation cells eachcontain a quantity of bound charge.

(b) Interior Calculation Cells

Feature 41: The computer-implemented process of Feature 34 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one calculation cell of the plurality ofcalculation cells is an interior calculation cell.

Feature 42: The computer-implemented process of Feature 41 wherein, asinputted in step (I)(A), the at least one interior calculation cell hasa relative dielectric constant greater than one.

Feature 43: The computer-implemented process of Feature 42 wherein, instep (I)(B), the interior calculation cell contains a quantity of freecharge and a quantity of bound charge.

(3) Free and Bound Charges

Feature 44: The computer-implemented process of any of Features 1-10wherein said at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step(I)(B) comprises at least one free charge distribution and at least onebound charge distribution.

Feature 45: The computer-implemented process of Feature 44 wherein saidat least one free charge distribution comprises at least oneredistributable free charge distribution.

Feature 46: The computer-implemented process of Feature 45 wherein saidat least one redistributable free charge distribution is a steady statedistribution.

Feature 47: The computer-implemented process of Feature 44 wherein, instep (I)(B), the free charge distribution and the bound chargedistribution are determined at a plurality of time steps, the freecharge distribution being fixed when the bound charge distribution isdetermined and the bound charge distribution being fixed when the freecharge distribution is determined.

Feature 48: The computer-implemented process of Feature 47 wherein at atime step, the bound charge distribution is determined before the freecharge distribution.

Feature 49: The computer-implemented process of Feature 48 wherein at atime step, the bound charge distribution is determined based on a freecharge distribution of a previous time step.

Feature 50: The computer-implemented process of Feature 48 wherein at atime step, the free charge distribution is determined based on a boundcharge distribution for the same time step.

(a) Interface Calculation Cells

Feature 51: The computer-implemented process of Feature 44 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least two of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a pair of first and second interface calculationcells that oppose one another on opposite sides of an interface betweena first volume having a first conductivity and a first relativedielectric constant and a second volume having a second conductivity anda second relative dielectric constant, the conductivity and relativedielectric constant of the first interface calculation cell being thefirst conductivity and the first relative dielectric constant,respectively, and the conductivity and relative dielectric constant ofthe second interface calculation cell being the second conductivity andthe second relative dielectric constant, respectively.

Feature 52: The computer-implemented process of Feature 51 wherein, asinputted in step (I)(A), said first and second conductivities aredifferent and said first and second relative dielectric constants arethe same, or said first and second conductivities are the same and saidfirst and second relative dielectric constants are different, or saidfirst and second conductivities are different and said first and secondrelative dielectric constants are different.

Feature 53: The computer-implemented process of Feature 52 wherein instep (I)(B), at least one of the interface calculation cells contains aquantity of redistributable free charge and at least one of theinterface calculation cells contains a quantity of bound charge.

Feature 54: The computer-implemented process of Feature 52 wherein instep (I)(B), at least one of the interface calculation cells containsboth a quantity of redistributable free charge and a quantity of boundcharge.

Feature 55: The computer-implemented process of Feature 52 wherein instep (I)(B), at least one quantity of imposed redistributable freecharge is introduced into at least one interface calculation cell.

Feature 56: The computer-implemented process of Feature 55 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is applied free charge.

Feature 57: The computer-implemented process of Feature 55 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is free charge associated with thedirect action of a non-conservative field.

Feature 58: The computer-implemented process of Feature 52 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one of the interface calculation cells contains aquantity of non-redistributable free charge.

(b) Interior Calculation Cells

Feature 59: The computer-implemented process of Feature 44 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least one of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is an interior calculation cell.

Feature 60: The computer-implemented process of Feature 59 wherein, asinputted in step (I)(A), the interior calculation cell has aconductivity greater than zero and a relative dielectric constant ofone, or a conductivity equal to zero and a relative dielectric constantgreater than one, or a conductivity greater than zero and a relativedielectric constant greater than one.

Feature 61: The computer-implemented process of Feature 60 wherein instep (I)(B), the interior calculation cell contains a quantity of freecharge and a quantity of bound charge.

Feature 62: The computer-implemented process of Feature 60 wherein instep (I)(B), at least one quantity of imposed redistributable freecharge is introduced into the interior calculation cell.

Feature 63: The computer-implemented process of Feature 62 wherein theimposed redistributable free charge is applied free charge.

Feature 64: The computer-implemented process of Feature 60 wherein, instep (I)(B), the interior calculation cell contains a quantity ofnon-redistributable free charge.

Feature 65: The computer-implemented process of Feature 60 wherein, instep (I)(B), the interior calculation cell contains a quantity ofreduced free charge.

B. δ→0 Process

Feature 66: A computer-implemented process for computing and displayinga spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatial distribution and atime series of at least one electrical variable for at least a portionof an electrophysiological system, said method comprising:

(I) modeling said at least a portion of an electrophysiological systemby a method that comprises:

(A) inputting data to a computer regarding structure and at least oneelectrical property of said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system;

(B) simulating, using the computer, at least one spatial chargedistribution for said at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem without first determining and differentiating an electricalpotential distribution, wherein simulating comprises determiningquantities of charge in a plurality of calculation cells, each of saidplurality of calculation cells having at least two faces;

(II) using the computer to determine the spatial distribution, the timeseries, or the spatial distribution and the time series of theelectrical variable from the at least one spatial charge distributionsimulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein in step (I)(B) at least one (or a plurality, or a majority, oressentially all, or all) of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a flattened calculation cell having only two faceswith substantial areas as seen from quantities of charge in the othercalculation cells of said plurality of calculation cells.

Feature 67: The computer-implemented process of Feature 66 wherein, instep (I)(B), a quantity of charge for the flattened calculation cell isdetermined using ab initio solid angle calculations for only one face ofthe cell.

Feature 68: The computer-implemented process of Feature 66 wherein, instep (I)(B), at least two of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a pair of flattened first and second interfacecalculation cells that oppose one another on opposite sides of aninterface between a first volume having first electrical properties anda second volume having second electrical properties, each flattenedcalculation cell having only two faces with substantial areas as seenfrom quantities of charge in the other calculation cells of saidplurality of calculation cells.

Feature 69: The computer-implemented process of Feature 68 wherein, instep (I)(B), quantities of charge for the pair of flattened calculationcells is determined using ab initio solid angle calculations for onlyone face of one of the cells of the pair.

Feature 70: The computer-implemented process of Feature 66 wherein theat least one electrical variable is selected from the group consistingof electrical potentials, electric fields, currents, current densities,quantities of charge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistancevalues, and time constants.

C. Bound Charge/Free Charge Process

Feature 71: A computer-implemented process for computing and displayinga spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatial distribution and atime series of at least one electrical variable for at least a portionof an electrophysiological system, said method comprising:

(I) modeling said at least a portion of an electrophysiological systemby a method that comprises:

(A) inputting data to a computer regarding structure and at least oneelectrical property of said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system;

(B) simulating, using the computer, at least one spatial chargedistribution for said at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem without first determining and differentiating an electricalpotential distribution, wherein simulating comprises determiningquantities of charge in a plurality of calculation cells, each of saidplurality of calculation cells having at least two faces;

(II) using the computer to determine the spatial distribution, the timeseries, or the spatial distribution and the time series of theelectrical variable from the at least one spatial charge distributionsimulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein said at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step(I)(B) comprises at least one free charge distribution and at least onebound charge distribution.

Feature 72: The computer-implemented process of Feature 71 wherein, instep (I)(B), the free charge distribution and the bound chargedistribution are determined at a plurality of time steps, the freecharge distribution being fixed when the bound charge distribution isdetermined and the bound charge distribution being fixed when the freecharge distribution is determined.

Feature 73: The computer-implemented process of Feature 72 wherein at atime step, the bound charge distribution is determined before the freecharge distribution.

Feature 74: The computer-implemented process of Feature 73 wherein at atime step, the bound charge distribution is determined based on a freecharge distribution of a previous time step.

Feature 75: The computer-implemented process of Feature 73 wherein at atime step, the free charge distribution is determined based on a boundcharge distribution for the same time step.

Feature 76: The computer-implemented process of Feature 71 wherein theat least one electrical variable is selected from the group consistingof electrical potentials, electric fields, currents, current densities,quantities of charge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistancevalues, and time constants.

D. Interface/Interior Calculation Cells

Feature 77: A computer-implemented process for computing and displayinga spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatial distribution and atime series of at least one electrical variable for at least a portionof an electrophysiological system, said method comprising:

(I) modeling said at least a portion of an electrophysiological systemby a method that comprises:

(A) inputting data to a computer regarding structure and at least oneelectrical property of said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system;

(B) simulating, using the computer, at least one spatial chargedistribution for said at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem without first determining and differentiating an electricalpotential distribution, wherein simulating comprises determiningquantities of charge in a plurality of calculation cells, each of saidplurality of calculation cells having at least two faces;

(II) using the computer to determine the spatial distribution, the timeseries, or the spatial distribution and the time series of theelectrical variable from the at least one spatial charge distributionsimulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein in step (I)(B), said plurality of calculation cells comprises atleast one interior calculation cell and at least one interfacecalculation cell.

Feature 78: The computer-implemented process of Feature 77 wherein theat least one electrical variable is selected from the group consistingof electrical potentials, electric fields, currents, current densities,quantities of charge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistancevalues, and time constants.

E. Non-Transitory Computer Readable Medium

Feature 79: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructionsstored therein, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps:

(I) modeling at least a portion of an electrophysiological system by amethod that comprises:

(A) inputting data regarding structure and at least one electricalproperty of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system;

(B) simulating at least one spatial charge distribution for said atleast a portion of an electrophysiological system without firstdetermining and differentiating an electrical potential distribution,wherein simulating comprises determining quantities of charge in aplurality of calculation cells, each of said plurality of calculationcells having at least two faces;

(II) determining a spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatialdistribution and a time series of an electrical variable from the atleast one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein for at least one (or a plurality, or a majority, or essentiallyall, or all) of said plurality of calculation cells, a quantity ofcharge for the calculation cell is determined in step (I)(B), at leastin part, using a solid angle of a face of the calculation cell as seenfrom a quantity of charge in at least one other calculation cell (orfrom quantities of charge in a plurality of (or in a majority of, or inessentially all of, or in all of) the other calculation cells) of saidplurality of calculation cells.

Feature 80: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructionsstored therein, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps:

(I) modeling at least a portion of an electrophysiological system by amethod that comprises:

(A) inputting data regarding structure and at least one electricalproperty of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system;

(B) simulating at least one spatial charge distribution for said atleast a portion of an electrophysiological system without firstdetermining and differentiating an electrical potential distribution,wherein simulating comprises determining quantities of charge in aplurality of calculation cells, each of said plurality of calculationcells having at least two faces;

(II) determining a spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatialdistribution and a time series of an electrical variable from the atleast one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein in step (I)(B) at least one (or a plurality, or a majority, oressentially all, or all) of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a flattened calculation cell having only two faceswith substantial areas as seen from quantities of charge in the othercalculation cells of said plurality of calculation cells.

Feature 81: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructionsstored therein, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps:

(I) modeling at least a portion of an electrophysiological system by amethod that comprises:

(A) inputting data regarding structure and at least one electricalproperty of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system;

(B) simulating at least one spatial charge distribution for said atleast a portion of an electrophysiological system without firstdetermining and differentiating an electrical potential distribution,wherein simulating comprises determining quantities of charge in aplurality of calculation cells, each of said plurality of calculationcells having at least two faces;

(II) determining a spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatialdistribution and a time series of an electrical variable from the atleast one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein said at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step(I)(B) comprises at least one free charge distribution and at least onebound charge distribution.

Feature 82: A non-transitory computer readable medium with instructionsstored therein, that when executed by a processor, perform the steps:

(I) modeling at least a portion of an electrophysiological system by amethod that comprises:

(A) inputting data regarding structure and at least one electricalproperty of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system;

(B) simulating at least one spatial charge distribution for said atleast a portion of an electrophysiological system without firstdetermining and differentiating an electrical potential distribution,wherein simulating comprises determining quantities of charge in aplurality of calculation cells, each of said plurality of calculationcells having at least two faces;

(II) determining a spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatialdistribution and a time series of an electrical variable from the atleast one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and

(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II);

wherein in step (I)(B), said plurality of calculation cells comprises atleast one interior calculation cell and at least one interfacecalculation cell.

Feature 83: A computer system comprising a non-transitory computerreadable medium according to Feature 79, 80, 81, and/or 82 and aprocessor for executing the instructions stored therein.

Experimental measurements provide the electrical, chemical, structural,and dimensional properties of the electrophysiological systems referredto in these features. The various computations referred to in thefeatures transform the data provided by those experimental measurementsinto forms, e.g., spatial charge distributions, which are displayed andused to interpret the underlying physiological phenomena which generatedthe experimental data. The transformed data is also used in the designof further experiments.

A variety of modifications that do not depart from the scope and spiritof the invention will be evident to persons of ordinary skill in the artfrom the foregoing disclosure. The following claims are intended tocover the specific embodiments set forth herein as well as suchmodifications, variations, and equivalents.

TABLE 1 Superscript or Subscript Meaning Superscript f Redistributablefree charges of interface or interior calculation cells, except in Eqs.(1) and (2) where the superscript represents all types of free chargewherever located, i.e., quantities of redistributable and non-redistributable free charge of interface or interior calculation cells.Superscript s Non-redistributable free charges of interface or interiorcalculation cells. Superscript b Bound charges of interface or interiorcalculation cells. Subscript A Interface calculation cell which cancontain quantities of redistributable free interface charge when σ_(A) >0 or quantities of non-redistributable free interface charge when σ_(A)= 0, and, in either case, quantities of bound interface charge. Incertain embodiments, σ_(A) is assumed to be greater than σ_(B).Subscript B Interface calculation cell which can contain quantities ofredistributable free interface charge when σ_(B) > 0 or quantities ofnon-redistributable free interface charge when σ_(B) = 0, and, in eithercase, quantities of bound interface charge. Subscript int Interiorcalculation cell which can contain quantities of redistributable freeinterior charge when σ_(int) > 0 or quantities of non-redistributablefree interior charge when σ_(int) = 0, and, in either case, quantitiesof bound interior charge.

TABLE 2 Calculation Cell Solid Angle Solution (%) ′617/′466 Solution (%)20 2.6558E−00  2.4945E−00 19 2.1008E−10  2.7116E−01 18 4.2320E−11 4.8530E−02 17 8.4494E−12  2.2102E−02 16 −1.8472E−12   1.5926E−02 15−1.6281E−12   1.2095E−02 14 −7.2402E−13   8.4108E−03 13 −2.2371E−13  4.2677E−03 12 −4.1325E−14  −8.2560E−04 11 2.4218E−12 −7.4777E−03 105.9644E−12 −1.6545E−02 9 1.0056E−11 −2.9298E−02 8 1.0042E−11 −4.7681E−027 3.9690E−12 −7.4687E−02 6 −1.2341E−11  −1.1485E−01 5 −6.6227E−11 −1.7463E−01 4 −1.4931E−10  −2.6177E−01 3 −1.3713E−10  −3.8139E−01 22.6236E−10 −5.2517E−01 1 1.1033E−09 −6.5578E−01 0 1.6176E−09 −7.1092E−01−1 1.1033E−09 −6.5578E−01 −2 2.6236E−10 −5.2517E−01 −3 −1.3713E−10 −3.8139E−01 −4 −1.4931E−10  −2.6177E−01 −5 −6.6226E−11  −1.7463E−01 −6−1.2341E−11  −1.1485E−01 −7 3.9671E−12 −7.4687E−02 −8 1.0042E−11−4.7681E−02 −9 1.0055E−11 −2.9298E−02 −10 5.9632E−12 −1.6545E−02 −112.4218E−12 −7.4777E−03 −12 −4.1856E−14  −8.2560E−04 −13 −2.2271E−13  4.2677E−03 −14 −7.2449E−13   8.4108E−03 −15 −1.6282E−12   1.2095E−02−16 −1.8475E−12   1.5926E−02 −17 8.4494E−12  2.2102E−02 −18 4.2320E−11 4.8530E−02 −19 2.1009E−10  2.7116E−01 −20 2.6558E−00  2.4945E−00

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer-implemented process for computing anddisplaying a spatial distribution, a time series, or a spatialdistribution and a time series of at least one electrical variable forat least a portion of an electrophysiological system, said methodcomprising: (I) modeling said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system by a method that comprises: (A) inputtingdata to a computer regarding structure and at least one electricalproperty of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system;(B) simulating, using the computer, at least one spatial chargedistribution for said at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem without first determining and differentiating an electricalpotential distribution, wherein simulating comprises determiningquantities of charge in a plurality of calculation cells, each of saidplurality of calculation cells having at least two faces; (II) using thecomputer to determine the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variable fromthe at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II); wherein for at least one of said plurality ofcalculation cells, a quantity of charge for the calculation cell isdetermined in step (I)(B), at least in part, using a solid angle of aface of the calculation cell as seen from a quantity of charge in atleast one other calculation cell of said plurality of calculation cells.2. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein the at least oneelectrical variable is selected from the group consisting of electricalpotentials, electric fields, currents, current densities, quantities ofcharge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistance values, andtime constants.
 3. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 whereinin step (I)(B) at least two of the calculation cells of the plurality ofcalculation cells is a pair of first and second interface calculationcells that oppose one another on opposite sides of an interface betweena first volume having first electrical properties and a second volumehaving second electrical properties.
 4. The computer-implemented processof claim 1 wherein, in step (I)(B), at least one of the calculationcells of the plurality of calculation cells is an interior calculationcell.
 5. The computer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein said atleast one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I)(B) comprisesat least one redistributable free charge distribution.
 6. Thecomputer-implemented process of claim 1 wherein said at least onespatial charge distribution simulated in step (I)(B) comprises at leastone bound charge distribution.
 7. The computer-implemented process ofclaim 1 wherein: (a) said at least one spatial charge distributionsimulated in step (I)(B) comprises at least one free charge distributionand at least one bound charge distribution; and (b) the free chargedistribution and the bound charge distribution are determined at aplurality of time steps, the free charge distribution being fixed whenthe bound charge distribution is determined and the bound chargedistribution being fixed when the free charge distribution isdetermined.
 8. The computer-implemented process of claim 8 wherein at atime step, the bound charge distribution is determined before the freecharge distribution.
 9. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable,storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied therein,wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executableinstructions cause the at least one processor to perform steps (I)(B),(II), and (III) of the process of claim
 1. 10. A computer-implementedprocess for computing and displaying a spatial distribution, a timeseries, or a spatial distribution and a time series of at least oneelectrical variable for at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem, said method comprising: (I) modeling said at least a portion ofan electrophysiological system by a method that comprises: (A) inputtingdata to a computer regarding structure and at least one electricalproperty of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system;(B) simulating, using the computer, at least one spatial chargedistribution for said at least a portion of an electrophysiologicalsystem without first determining and differentiating an electricalpotential distribution, wherein simulating comprises determiningquantities of charge in a plurality of calculation cells, each of saidplurality of calculation cells having at least two faces; (II) using thecomputer to determine the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variable fromthe at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II); wherein said at least one spatial chargedistribution simulated in step (I)(B) comprises at least one free chargedistribution and at least one bound charge distribution.
 11. Thecomputer-implemented process of claim 10 wherein the at least oneelectrical variable is selected from the group consisting of electricalpotentials, electric fields, currents, current densities, quantities ofcharge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistance values, andtime constants.
 12. The computer-implemented process of claim 10wherein, in step (I)(B), the free charge distribution and the boundcharge distribution are determined at a plurality of time steps,wherein: (a) the free charge distribution is fixed when the bound chargedistribution is determined and the bound charge distribution is fixedwhen the free charge distribution is determined; and (b) at a time step,the bound charge distribution is determined before the free chargedistribution.
 13. The computer-implemented process of claim 12 whereinat a time step, the bound charge distribution is determined based on afree charge distribution of a previous time step.
 14. Thecomputer-implemented process of claim 12 wherein at a time step, thefree charge distribution is determined based on a bound chargedistribution for the same time step.
 15. One or more non-transitory,computer-readable, storage media having computer-executable instructionsembodied therein, wherein when executed by at least one processor, thecomputer-executable instructions cause the at least one processor toperform steps (I)(B), (II), and (III) of the process of claim
 10. 16. Acomputer-implemented process for computing and displaying a spatialdistribution, a time series, or a spatial distribution and a time seriesof at least one electrical variable for at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system, said method comprising: (I) modeling saidat least a portion of an electrophysiological system by a method thatcomprises: (A) inputting data to a computer regarding structure and atleast one electrical property of said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system; (B) simulating, using the computer, atleast one spatial charge distribution for said at least a portion of anelectrophysiological system without first determining anddifferentiating an electrical potential distribution; (II) using thecomputer to determine the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variable fromthe at least one spatial charge distribution simulated in step (I); and(III) displaying the spatial distribution, the time series, or thespatial distribution and the time series of the electrical variabledetermined in step (II); wherein said at least one spatial chargedistribution simulated in step (I)(B) is simulated without calculatingcharges at locations that are within the body of at least one conductivemedium of said at least a portion of an electrophysiological system,other than those locations, if any, of said at least one conductivemedium where charge is applied at the beginning, during the course of,or both at the beginning and during the course of the simulation. 17.The computer-implemented process of claim 16 wherein the body of the atleast one conductive medium is free of applied charge at the beginningof the simulation and does not receive applied charge during the courseof the simulation.
 18. The computer-implemented process of claim 16wherein the body of the at least one conductive medium is isotropic. 19.The computer-implemented process of claim 16 wherein the at least oneelectrical variable is selected from the group consisting of electricalpotentials, electric fields, currents, current densities, quantities ofcharge, charge densities, capacitance values, resistance values, andtime constants.
 20. One or more non-transitory, computer-readable,storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied therein,wherein when executed by at least one processor, the computer-executableinstructions cause the at least one processor to perform steps (I)(B),(II), and (III) of the process of claim 16.